Poulter claims Match Play Championship

Marana: Ian Poulter broke his American duck when he outplayed fellow Briton Paul Casey 4&2 to win the Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain.

"To finally win over here, it means everything," Poulter told reporters. "I`m just so happy to finally win on American soil." "I was very comfortable on the course today. I felt in control of my game all week. I don`t know if there was any given point where it was going to be my week (but) I just felt very calm." The win gave Poulter a USD 1.4 million (905,000 pounds) winner`s cheque and propelled him to fifth in the world rankings, but the Briton said he would have to hold off on the celebrations."I can`t see myself having too many drinks tonight because I might wake up with a sore head tomorrow," Poulter, who is scheduled to tape a television advertisement in California early on Monday, told reporters. Poulter, who collected his first ATP title and 10th European Tour win with the victory, was quoted in media reports a couple of years ago saying he felt he could challenge Tiger Woods for the top ranking, were he to fulfil his potential. "I didn`t quite say it was just me and Tiger (but) I just felt that if I could deliver what I believed I could, then I could put myself in a good situation and I`ve certainly done that over the last 18 months and I`ve certainly been able to deliver on that today."Poulter dominated most of the 36-hole final, trailing for only one hole early before taking the lead for good at the seventh. He was two-up after 18 holes and never led by less during the second round. Bureau Report