October 13, 2007

Cabrera and Els to contest HSBC Match Play Final

In their semi-final matches, Cabrera defeated American debutant Hunter Mahan 2&1, while Els downed Sweden’s Henrik Stenson 3&2 to create the gripping 36-hole final, one that takes on added significance given the rugby clash in France later on Sunday.

“I’d love to win tomorrow, and I know Angel would love to win tomorrow, to get a little something going for the guys, if they even look at it,” said Els with a smile, as he looked forward to getting underway at 8.30am on Sunday for the final against Cabrera.

Els, who could have been a rugby professional had he not picked golf instead, has a ticket for the game – and his private jet is booked for a potential flight to get over to Paris, and then a waiting car will take him onto the Stade de France should he decide it’s doable.

“It would be great to go. If we have a lot of time, maybe I will. We’ve talked with the pilots and they said we could leave at 7.30pm, but it’s still quite a way away,” he revealed.

But he first wants to win the HSBC World Match Play Championship for a record seventh time – and says that will be his priority.

“I don’t want to be thinking about the rugby on the golf course,” stated Els. “All of those other things are bonuses. If I feel like I don’t want to go to the game, then I’m not going to, if it’s too much of a rush. I can always watch it on television.

“I’ve got to take care of what’s important, and that’s trying to win the tournament.”

Cabrera was equally resolute in his determination to win having reached his first HSBC World Match Play Championship Final. “I’m very happy to be playing in the final – and if I keep my form, let’s try to take the trophy home,” he said.

“I have a really good relationship with Ernie. We played together as partners in the Presidents Cup and I have played many times with him. He’s a great gentleman and a great player, and a good friend. I look forward to our final. I will have to play my best to win.”

Both finalists had to do just that to overcome their semi-final opponents.

Els trailed Stenson 1-up after the first 18 holes on Saturday morning, but really got going in the afternoon. He went out in four under par 31, and holed some crucial par saves on holes 11, 13 and 16 to help seal his win.

“My putting was awful this morning and it was very, very frustrating. I made a change in the lunch-hour, as I felt I was hanging too far on my right hand side on address, and subsequently I was hitting up on the ball and not giving a true roll.

“I just leaned on to my left side and really tried to punch the ball, make the stroke a little shorter and a little more punchy. So I had a much better roll and I made some crucial putts.”

Els added: “I think with persistence today, I kind of got through it. It’s not that I played better than Henrik, I think it was just persistence. I kept working on my game all day, and that’s why I like 36-hole matchplay. I would’ve lost 1-down this morning, but come back, you win three, four holes and win the match.”

Stenson, who beat Denmark’s Anders Hansen 7&6 on Friday, said of his defeat: “I was one-up in the morning but I feel I gave him a couple of free holes in the morning. I couldn’t quite find the same good feelings I had against Anders and had a problem with my ball striking today.

“I felt I gave those free holes away and then he came out really strong this afternoon and putted great this afternoon. He made three birdies on the front nine that I couldn’t match so he got it back to 2-up. It took him 25 holes to get ahead.

“Then it was 3-up and I came back real hard. He was hanging on for dear life at the end, a couple of times with the putter. I felt like if he caved in on one or two of them that I could have taken it down the last few holes, but he just made some fantastic putts, and I never got the chance. Especially on the 11th, 13th and 16th.

“He was in the sand on the 11th but got up and down; escaped the ditch on the 13th and got up and down, and did it on the 16th as well with a great save. I had an unfortunate lie off the 15th in the bunker as well, because he was in trouble in the trees, and I had a great chance to get that hole back, but ended up losing the hole. That’s matchplay. He fought really well and I wish him well in the final. It’s going to be a great one against Angel.”

Cabrera shot six under par 66 in the morning to Mahan’s 71 for a 3-up lead that he extended to 6-up after four holes of the afternoon round.

However, the American dug deep and responded with a birdie blitz of his own, firing four from holes six through ten to get back in it.

But it was Cabrera who ultimately held firm. “I just tried to stay focused when he came back at me and started making birdies, and to stay calm. Every year that goes by, you get more experience and maturity,” he said.

Talking about his efforts, 25-year-old Californian Mahan, who defeated Justin Rose and Sǿren Hansen to get to the semi-final, said: “He was just a little better than me today. I felt like I played very well this afternoon – I was seven under par for 17 holes – but I just got a little too far behind. That start, losing three out of the first four holes, hurt.”

Coming in this morning, on holes 16 and 17, Cabrera found the bunker and trees, but scrambled to save his pars and the holes – and Mahan admitted it was frustrating.

“On the 16th I thought I’d get him, and on the 17th I thought I’d get him too. That would have been one down, but he scrambled well and then he hit that 3-wood on the 18th, and that was a turning point, for him to go 3-up with the eagle on 18.

“Then he won three of the first four holes, and I was down, but I battled hard and I’m pleased with my fight-back.

“I battled hard, then made a bunch of putts with those four birdies in six holes, but I felt like I had a chance when I got it back from 6 to 3 down. I knew it was going to be tough, with the par fives coming down and him hitting it so good.

“I had some chances, only I didn’t make the best putts, so I cannot be too upset. He was a little better. I just wasn’t as sharp as him or as good as him for the first 21 holes.”

And given the Rugby World Cup theme of the day, Mahan revealed he would be a keen observer of England vs France on Saturday night.

“I am going back to the States tomorrow, but I’m going to watch the rugby tonight. I’m kind of intrigued by it. There’s so much talk about it and obviously there’s a lot of pride on the line, so I’m going to tune in for sure. I have watched rugby before and I like it.”

Returning to the tournament, to evaluate on his debut week here, and with a £120,000 prize heading to his bank account, Mahan said: “I’ve had a great time. I honestly played better than I thought I would and it was awesome.

“It’s a great golf course, great people are here. IMG and HSBC run a great tournament. Yes, the money is nice, but I’ll put it away somewhere and hopefully won’t spend too much of it!

“The British fans probably didn’t know much about me before but they do now and I got great support this week. I love coming over here. When they get behind you, it’s great, so it’s nice. I may come back and play in Dubai on The European Tour. That definitely interests me. I’ve heard great things about it.”