Campbell beats McGinley 2 & 1

Michael Campbell pocketed a cheque for one million pounds, the richest first prize in golf, after beating Irishman Paul McGinley 2 & 1 in Sunday's 36-hole final of the World Match Play Championship.

The New Zealander became the fourth man to capture the Wentworth title and the U.S. Open in the same season, following in the footsteps of South African Gary Player (1965), American Hale Irwin (1974) and South African Ernie Els (1994).

"To hold this trophy is a wonderful feeling," Campbell told BBC television.

"Paul played great but fortunately enough I managed to stumble over the finishing line there with a couple of wins on 15 and 16.

"I've had to face a lot of tough competitors this week -- Geoff Ogilvy, Steve Elkington and Retief Goosen -- all great players."

Consolation for runner-up McGinley in his first appearance at the World Match Play was a cheque for 400,000 pounds ($723,200).

There was never more than one hole between the two men in a close-fought morning round played on a calm, overcast day in leafy Surrey.

The 36-year-old Kiwi, dressed appropriately in all black, was one up at halfway after registering a three-under-par 69 against McGinley's 70.

Fourth seed Campbell, who became the first Maori winner of a major when he triumphed at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina in June, appeared to open up a decisive advantage when he won two of the first three holes in the afternoon round.

He chipped in from off the green for a birdie three at the first.

McGinley, 38, without a tournament victory since the 2001 Celtic Manor Welsh Open, then made a hash of the third where he carded a double-bogey six.

The genial Irishman, who famously holed the putt which won the Ryder Cup for Europe at The Belfry in 2002, took four shots to reach the green and two-putted from three feet.

However, world number 36 McGinley, a gutsy, tenacious match play competitor, refused to go down without a fight.

He won the sixth and seventh with birdies before getting back to all square when Campbell bogeyed the ninth after taking four strokes to reach the putting surface.

A female streaker caused amusement among the crowd when she rushed on to the 11th green as Campbell lined up a putt to win the hole. His birdie effort eventually slid by the cup.

Campbell's attentions could not be diverted at the next, though, where he converted a five-foot birdie putt.

The Kiwi's fluctuating fortunes continued at the 13th, where he fluffed an escape from a greenside bunker as McGinley once again got back to all square.

Even though he kept pegging back his opponent, McGinley simply could not get his nose in front and a bogey at the 15th helped Campbell regain the lead for good.

The Irishman went two down with two to play when a wayward drive into the trees cost him another bogey five at the 16th.

"I played so well the first few days but Michael played well today. I couldn't get at him," said McGinley.

"I caught him a few times but I couldn't get one up on him. My game just wasn't quite good enough."

Campbell's victory helped him return to the top of the European order of merit ahead of Retief Goosen, the player he beat 7 & 6 in the semi-finals.

World number 16 New Zealander, who lives on the south coast of England in Brighton, now leads the South African by around 90,000 pounds.

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