• WGC-Accenture Match Play, Day Five

McIlroy trumps Westwood to book final spot

Rory McIlroy celebrates after a holed putt © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Out of Bounds: McIlroy & Westwood a rivalry with real bite
  
• News: Westy licking his lips at more McIlroy battles
  
• News: Mahan halts McIlroy's No. 1 charge in final
  
• Profile: Hunter Mahan | Rory McIlroy | Lee Westwood | Mark Wilson

Rory McIlroy came back from a disastrous start to beat Lee Westwood and book his place in the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

With both players needing to win the event to become world No. 1 when the new rankings are released on Monday, McIlroy lost three of the first four holes before bouncing back with a run of error-free golf that his uncharacteristically jumpy opponent was unable to deal with, eventually succumbing on the 17th to a 3&1 defeat.

If he wins the final, at 22-years old McIlroy will become the youngest player ever to both win a World Golf Championship event and become world No. 1. Hunter Mahan stands between him and those twin milestones, after he defeated fellow American Mark Wilson 2&1.

All eyes were on the second match of the day, however, as Westwood and McIlroy faced off in a battle of many intriguing subplots. With top spot in the world rankings and a place in the final of the tournament on the agenda, the contest was further sweetened by the individual animosity between the two - a problem hinted at when McIlroy made the shock decision to leave his management company (that also represents Westwood) last year.

Although both players insisted on Saturday that they remained friends and were looking forward to a high-quality match, their appeared to be little love lost between them as they barely acknowledged each other on the driving range and putting green ahead of their tee-time.

When the battle finally got underway it was Westwood who got the fast start he had been craving, birdying the second and fourth holes to quickly move three-up as his opponent began in sluggish fashion.

A birdie at the par-five 5th would spark McIlroy into life, however, as he went on to birdie three of the next four to stun Westwood and end the front nine one-up.

By this point Westwood appeared to have been knocked out of a rhythm, as his previously metronomic iron play of the rest of the week ceased to be in evidence as he failed to give himself the birdie chances he needed to get back in the match - instead falling three down with five to play after McIlroy popped in putts at 12 and 13.

The Englishman wasn't just going to give up, however - a majestic eagle at the par-four 15th (in which he drove it to 10-feet and holed the wickedly breaking putt) giving him a glimmer of hope of making a comeback.

He couldn't repeat the feat at the next (halving it with a par despite hitting his tee-shot to 12-feet as McIlroy found the bunker) however, and that missed opportunity ultimately cost him as he made a hash of the 17th to end any chance he had of winning the hole and extending the match.

McIlroy will now face Mahan, who kept his cool over the back nine to see off the threat of Wilson at the 17th.

With Mahan two-up at the turn, the American duo won just another hole each as they headed for home - enabling Mahan to clinch victory at the 17th with another par.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.