McIlroy lose to Mahan in Match Play

By DOUG FERGUSON

AP Golf Writer

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) Hunter Mahan stopped Rory McIlroy's march to No. 1 by winning the Match Play Championship.

Mahan built a 4-up lead through 10 holes at Dove Mountain, then held off the

(AP Photo/Matt York)

22-year-old from Northern Ireland to capture his second World Golf Championship title.

McIlroy defeated Lee Westwood in a semifinal match Sunday morning. He could have replaced Luke Donald at No. 1 in the world by winning the tournament. But he fell behind with a series of mistakes on the front nine and could never catch up.

With his 2-and-1 victory, Mahan becomes the first American to win the Match Play Championship since Tiger Woods in 2008. He is the sixth player to win multiple WGC titles, and he moves into the top 10 for the first time in his career.

Updated February 26, 2012

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