• WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Day Four

Westwood reign over as Kaymer claims No. 1 spot

Martin Kaymer is the new world No. 1 © Getty Images

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Martin Kaymer has dethroned Lee Westwood as the world No. 1 after he reached the final of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Saturday.

Kaymer needed to finish in the top two of the Arizona tournament in order to top the official golf rankings, and he confirmed the end of Westwood's reign by taking out Bubba Watson in a tight semi-final. Watson, who boasted a significant advantage over Kaymer off the tee, eventually succumbed by the odd hole.

At 26 years of age, Kaymer only turned professional in 2005, but there can be no doubting that he is the world's form player, winning four events in 2010 including the PGA Championship. Against Watson he needed his trademark composure under pressure, trailing the American by one through eight. It all went down to the 18th, with Kaymer now leading by one, and the German held his nerve over a seven-footer to halve the final hole.

Kaymer had earlier taken the first of two steps toward the No. 1 spot by defeating Miguel Angel Jimenez in the last-eight. Jimenez did not make it easy for his rival, producing a stirring fightback after he had trailed by four holes with four to play. The Spaniard claimed 15, 16 and 17 to take it to the last, where a superb recovery shot by Kaymer forced the decisive concession.

England's Luke Donald will stand in Kaymer's way in the final after a quite outstanding day on US Soil. Donald has his own ambitions to satisfy, knowing he can move up to No. 3 in the world if he reigns supreme in Arizona. The 33 year-old has also not won an American event since he claimed the Honda Classic in 2006.

However, he is undoubtedly the form player going into Sunday's final, after he swept aside Matt Kuchar 6&5 in the semis. The American had beaten YE Yang to reach the last four, but he had no answer to Donald, who led by seven through 10 holes. A wobble at 11 and 12 hinted at a Donald collapse, but he quickly rectified matters by closing out the match on 13.

Victory over Kuchar came on the back of another hugely comfortable 5&4 win against Ryan Moore in the quarters. Once again a quick start was key to Donald's success, rattling off a succession of birdies to lead by four at the turn. Moore only managed to claim one in response, as Donald rapidly wrapped things up with a 15-footer.

"I've been working hard and it's nice to see the work paying off. I made a bunch of birdies and made it hard for Ryan," Donald told Sky Sports. "You do the same things, try and hit it close, give yourself opportunities and put pressure on your opponent."

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