KAVARNA, Bulgaria - Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland defeated Thongchai Jaidee 2&1 in the last few holes of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship Sunday evening.
Thongchai, at 43 the oldest player in the field, took an early lead and was 2-up on McDowell after the first four holes. But McDowell chipped away at the Thai's lead, whittling it to 1-up at the turn, and then dominated the back nine for the win.
Thongchai had earlier continued his surprise progress into the tournament final by disposing of South African Thomas Aiken 3 & 2 in Sunday's semi-final in cloudless and hot conditions on the Thracian Cliffs course along the Black Sea shoreline.
The triple Asian Tour No.1 was never headed in his match against Aiken, posting seven birdies over the 16 holes.
"I had another good start today and with the birdie on the fourth I was 3 up, so my game has been very solid this week," said Thongchai.
"I hit a lot of good iron shots this morning that went quite close to the pin and that was the key for my win, so I am also enjoying my golf.
"I now have a tough match against Graeme and I will enjoy that and try my best to see if I can win."
McDowell, ranked 55 places higher on the World Rankings than Thongchai at No.8, recorded eight birdies in defeating South African Branden Grace as the European Ryder Cup star looks to now go one better after losing out in last year's final in Spain.
"That was the best I've played this week with eight birdies and no bogeys, and I knew I was playing a quality player in Branden Grace and I had to come out and play well but the conditions were absolutely perfect for scoring," said McDowell.
Victory will see the winner earn a first prize cheque of 800,000 euros (29.6 million baht), and with Thongchai assured of breaking into the top-50 on the World Rankings no matter if he wins or loses that would see him contest next month's US Open in Pennsylvania.