Ross Fisher won the 36-hole World Match Play Championship final yesterday by beating Anthony Kim 4 and 3.

Fisher had an eagle at the par-4 22nd hole and birdie at the par-5 23rd to put him 3-up at the Finca Cortesin golf course. Kim won the next hole but then missed putts on the 25th and 26th holes. Kim later missed several hole-winning putts down the stretch.

Fisher, the fourth Englishman to win the event, never trailed his American opponent as the first 18 holes were played in cool, overcast conditions before the sun came out in the afternoon.

Kim tried to rally on the second 18, putting his drive within 15 feet on the 24th hole and then making the birdie putt, but he couldn't hold it together around the greens, lipping out from about a foot on the 26th.

First win

Fisher, who won for the first time this season, earned euro750,000 ($US 1.1 million) for the victory and jumped into third place in the European Tour money standings. Kim improved his chances of playing in the season-ending Dubai World Championship by earning €450,000 ($US 666,000) to move into the top 35 in the money list.