Finch progresses by surprising Kaymer

hull’s Richard Finch sent top seed Martin Kaymer crashing out of the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin in Spain yesterday.

Finch is the lowest-ranked player in the 24-strong field at No 218 and earned a place by coming third in last month’s Volvo China Open only because top two Branden Grace and Nicolas Colsaerts were already qualified.

Finch’s victory was secured when his German opponent , a former US PGA champion, missed a three-foot putt on the final green, and the 34-year-old Yorkshireman said: “Obviously Martin being the player he is, I didn’t expect that.

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“I almost felt like giving it to him to be honest, but with the wind gusting like it is it’s not easy.

“It was tough to hole any putts, so it wasn’t a birdie fest, but I came out on top in the end.”

Finch lost to Rafael Cabrera-Bello earlier in the day, but Kaymer had already lost to the Spaniard so it was a straight fight to decide who also went through from the group.

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell, of Northern Ireland, is next for Finch, who added: “It will be tough, but there’s no easy match.

“If I play well I’ll have a chance.”

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Justin Rose piled on the agony for Darren Clarke with a 6&4 drubbing. Open champion Clarke had also lost to Robert Rock earlier in the day – that at least went to the final green.

Rose, in contrast, has not gone beyond the 14th hole in either of his games – he crushed Rock 7&6.

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