Ian Poulter Match Play champion

MARANA, Ariz. (AP) — The trophy Ian Poulter is taking home from the Match Play Championship is called the “Walter Hagen Cup.”

For his first victory on American soil, perhaps that’s only fitting.

Hagen, among golf’s greatest players with 11 majors, was regarded as much for his snappy attire as his record four straight PGA Championships when they were match play.

The Haig would have liked this Englishman.

Dressed in pink on a chilly day in the high desert, Poulter put on a short-game clinic Sunday and led over the final 28 holes on his way to a 4-and-2 victory over Paul Casey in an all-England final at the first World Golf Championship of the year.

The trophy is as stylish as anything in his wardrobe.

With his ninth career victory, and by far the biggest, Poulter moved to a career-best No. 5 in the world ranking. And as always, he looked good getting there.

“I’ve had an interesting ride from a lot of people’s point of view of how I present myself on the golf course, as opposed to how well I can actually perform,” Poulter said. “This to me is very pleasing to be able to be in that position now. I guess [No.] 5 in the world stands for more than just what I wear on the golf course.”

His short game was second to none.

Poulter seized control in the morning session with two solid chips for birdies, then effectively closed out Casey with a deft pitch up the slope — with mud on his ball, no less — that settled inches away for one last birdie.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Poulter said after closing out Casey with a par on the 34th hole. “I knew I was in great form. I felt comfortable all day on the golf course.”

Casey made sure Poulter didn’t work up too much of a sweat. He struggled at times with his swing in falling behind, and his short game wasn’t good enough to allow him to catch up.

Casey became the first player to lose consecutive years in the championship match.

“Poulter played great,” Casey said. “There were a lot of shots which I wanted to pull off and I didn’t. He did a fantastic job of making putts and keeping the ball in play, and he kept the pressure on. And I got beaten.”

Poulter played only 114 holes all week — only Tiger Woods with 112 holes in 2003 played fewer — and earned $1.4 million for the biggest check of his career.