World Matchplay Championship: Geoff Ogilvy may not have been a household name but it shouldn't detract from what he has achieved at La Costa this week in winning the WGC Accenture World Matchplay Championship and a cheque for $1.3 million. It's not as if the 28-year-old Australian doesn't have a decent pedigree but when corralled among the world's best, he was initially a member of the supporting cast.
The world ranked number 53 upset Davis Love 3 and 2 in the final, to claim the second big title of his career, having last year won the Chrysler Classic in Tuscon. In a quirky twist of fate, he'll defend this Matchplay title in Tuscon as the tournament moves to Arizona for the next staging.
If the tournament organisers and sponsors, never mind the spectators, were granted a wish then he might not have made the final. It's nothing personal just the realisation that a tournament denied box office names for it's denouement - Davis Love is ranked 23rd in the world - tends to leave the public apathetic.
It partially explained the meagre crowd that attended the final and the lack of atmosphere. The applause was polite rather than raucous. It aped the play of the morning 18 holes, a contest that rarely escaped the mundane with the Australian taking a one hole advantage into the afternoon.
It's not as if he didn't earn the right to his opportunity having gone to three tie holes against Nick O'Hern and Mike Weir - Ogilvy was four down with six to play in that match - and to the 19th in overcoming David Howell.
Beating American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman four and three in the semi-final was a mere bagatelle when set against his previous encounters. The Australian has made steady progress since joining the US PGA Tour in 2002 and last year recorded his first victory when claiming the Chrysler Classic Of Tuscon.
Ogilvy also harbours some interesting lineage, a distant relative of Sir Angus Ogilvy, the latter a member of the British Royal family and can also trace his roots back to Robert The Bruce of Bannockburn fame. It's no wonder he was such a doughty competitor.
Love, a major winner, doesn't demand the same sort of public fervour afforded to other Americans like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Quiet and self contained he is largely undemonstrative, pretty much the antithesis of a fist pumping Chris DiMaro or the equally animated Fred Funk. This final cried out for a modicum of colour but was initially mired in black-figured orthodoxy.
The back nine produced a few birdies and bogeys - both players completed the morning 18 holes in about two under the card - but even then only three holes changed hands, Ogilvy enjoying that narrow advantage.
It was the Australian that kick-started the contest after lunch with birdies on the third and fourth, the first of those underpinned by a glorious bunker shot to within 18 inches. It took him into a three up lead and provided a firm if still not decisive grip of the contest.
The American made birdie at the sixth and then watched as his fortunes improved at the next when the Australian missed a short putt to see him lead cut to just a single hole. It was once again going to be a test of Ogilvy's mettle as Love's body language changed completely. There was now a sense of purpose and a spring in his step.
Ogilvy re-established his authoritative hold on the match soon after the turn, conceded an eagle on the 11th and then holing an eight foot birdie putt at the next to go three up for the second time in the round. When Love drove behind a bush on the 14th and his ambition wasn't matched by his precision, Ogilvy was handed an opportunity go four up which he took by holing a 25 foot putt. He would claim the title two holes later on the 16th green.
FINAL: G Ogilvy (Aus) bt D Love 3 and 2
Semi-finals: D Love bt Z Johnson 4 and 2
T Lehman lost to G Ogilvy (Aus) 4 and 3
Quarter-finals: R Goosen (Rsa) lost to Z Johnson 3 and 2
G Ogilvy (Aus) bt D Howell (Eng) at 19th
P Harrington (Irl) lost to D Love 1 hole
C Campbell lost to T Lehman at 21st.
