• Volvo World Match Play Championship, Day Four

Colsaerts conquers G-Mac to win World Match Play

Nicolas Colsaerts boosted his Ryder Cup hopes © Getty Images

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Graeme McDowell's dogged effort in the Volvo World Match Play final was not enough to stop Nicolas Colsaerts winning the title.

Former US Open winner McDowell was well short of his best, but his never-say-die attitude kept him in the hunt against his Belgian opponent in Spain.

However, it was Colsaerts who triumphed 1-up to boost his chances of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup later this year.

In his semi-final, Colsaerts showed remarkable powers of recovery to come from four down to stun Paul Lawrie at the second extra hole, whilst McDowell extinguished Rafael Cabrera-Bello's comeback on the final hole.

Colsaerts was ahead of McDowell three times on the front nine, but they were all square when both arrived at the 10th tee. McDowell kept himself level at the first and second with par putts from 18 and then nine feet, only for Colsaerts to draw first blood with an eagle at the third.

McDowell restored parity after Colsaerts found water from the tee at four, but the latter earned an advantage with a five-footer for birdie at six. McDowell again hit back, before Colsaerts profited from his rival's penalty drop to go 1-up through eight - however, he bogeyed the ninth, allowing McDowell to equalise.

McDowell found the shrubs at 11th, his shot buffeted by the swirling wind, and Colsaerts profited both there and at the 13th, building a two-hole cushion.

The Ulsterman birdied the 14th to haul himself back into contention, but lost his temper at 16 after firing an approach shot well wide of the green. Colsaerts was again two up; McDowell won the 17th, before both parred the 18th.

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