The finalists are all square after 36 holes. Westwood finished the first 18 two ahead but Montgomerie caught up at the 24th this morning and since then it has been a see-saw battle. So for the first time since 1982 the final has gone into extra holes.
This is Westwood’s second appearance at the World Match Play after reaching the semi-final in 1998. He was ‘a bit shell-shocked’ after beating Els but is now focused on adding this Championship to his six professional victories already this year. If he succeeds he will equal the record, shared between Ballesteros, Faldo and his current opponent, of six European Tour victories in a season.
But Monty, who has played this competition 9 times before, will not surrender his crown without a fight. Last year he took six professional titles but this year, with only one under his belt, he will be very anxious to secure the Cisco World Match Play again.
