MARANA, Ariz. — Martin Kaymer is the new No. 1 in golf, this time without much debate.
Kaymer calmly rolled in an 8-foot par putt on the 18th hole Saturday for a 1-up victory over Bubba Watson to advance tothe final of the Match Play Championship. That was all he needed to move to No. 1 in the next world ranking.
The 26-year-old German becomesthe second-youngest player to be No. 1 since the ranking began in 1986. Tiger Woods was 21 when he reached No. 1 in June 1997.
It ends the 17-week reign of Lee Westwood, who had only three victories on his world ranking ledger when he became No. 1.
Kaymer has won seven times in the past two years, including his first major in the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits when he beat Watson in a three-hole playoff.
And another big victory might not be too far away.
With his 1-up victory, Kaymer advanced to the championship match today against Luke Donald of England, who set an Accenture Match Play Championship record by needing only 73 holes in five matches to get to the last match.
Kaymer, though, already has reason to celebrate.
“It’s obviously very special for me to be the second German,” he said of the world ranking.
Even so, more hard work awaits.
No one has been more dominant at Dove Mountain than Donald, who has yet to trail in any of his five matches. Donald only had to play 27 holes in his quarterfinal victory over Ryan Moore and his domination of Matt Kuchar in the semifinals.
It marks the second consecutive year for an all-European final in this World Golf Championship. A year ago, Ian Poulter defeated Paul Casey in the championship match.
Watson, who came into Saturday having played only 43 holes in three matches, faced 37 holes in a long and wild day. Watson was 5-down with eight to play against J.B. Holmes when he staged his comeback. Holmes hit into the desert at the wrong time and lost in 19 holes.
Kaymer and Watson were all square going to 15 when it turned in favor of the “Germanator.”
Watson tried to play a massive slice on the 334-yard hole with his driver, but it sailed far to the left and into a desert bush. He had to take a penalty drop and gave away the hole. Then with Kaymer long and right on the par-3 16th, Watson also missed the green and failed to get up-and-down for par, giving Kaymer a 2-up lead with two holes to play.
Watson made a 6-foot birdie putt on the 17th to stay in the match, but his shot from a fairway bunker on the 18th spun off the false front of the green. Kaymer went long, chipped to 8 feet and made the par.
“The matches I had were very difficult,” said Kaymer, who also went 18 holes in a 1-up victory over Miguel Angel Jimenez in the quarterfinals earlier Saturday.
PGA TOUR Wagner shoots 65
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico - Johnson Wagner shot a 6-under-par 65 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Chris Stroud after the third round in Mexico.
Wagner, the 2008 Houston Open winner, had a 13-under 200 on the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon course on the Caribbean coast. Stroud, the second-round leader after making eight consecutive birdies in a 63, shot a 70.
Bobby Gates (64), Spencer Levin (67) and Jarrod Lyle (67) were 11 under.
LPGA TOUR Arimura leads
SINGAPORE - Japan’s Chie Arimura shot a 1-underpar 71 to maintain a one-stroke lead over Australia’s Karrie Webb after the third round in Singapore.
The 23-year-old Arimura was steady on the third day of the event, shooting two birdies and one bogey for an 11-under 205 through three rounds.
Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 72 to finish even at 216. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) struggled Saturday, shooting a 78, and is 9-over 225.
NATIONWIDE Presnell on top
PANAMA CITY, Panama - Alistair Presnell was 5 under par through 12 holes and was on top of the leaderboard of Panama CLARO Championship at the Golf Club of Panama when third-round play was suspended Saturday afternoon because of darkness.
Kyle Reifers was 9 under through 10 holes Saturday.
Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a 66 Saturday and is 4-under 206 for the tournament. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) shot a 70 and is 1-under 209. Brenden Pappas (Razorbacks) had a 74 and finished 4-over 214.
Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) missed the cut after finishing at 145. Duke was one of 66 golfers who completed their second rounds Saturday morning.
Match Play results At The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain Marana, Ariz.
Purse: $8.5 million Yardage: 7,791; Par 72 SEMIFINALS Luke Donald (9), England, def. Matt Kuchar (13), United States, 6 and 5.
Martin Kaymer (2), Germany, def. Bubba Watson (19), United States, 1 up.
QUARTERFINALS Seeds in Parentheses Luke Donald (9), England, def. Ryan Moore (48), United States, 5 and 4.
Matt Kuchar (13), United States, def. Y.E. Yang (44), South Korea, 2 and 1.
Martin Kaymer (2), Germany, def. Miguel Angel Jimenez (23), Spain, 1 up.
Bubba Watson (19), United States, def. J.B. Holmes (22), United States, 19 holes.
Sports, Pages 25 on 02/27/2011