Matt Kuchar is the 2013 WGC – Accenture Match-Play champion after defeating defending champion and fellow American Hunter Mahan 2 & 1 in the final at Dove Mountain in Arizona.

It was Kuchar’s fourth appearance in the event and victory comes after the former PGA Tour No. 1 was third in 2011 and among the last eighth last year.

Victory also will lift the current World No. 24 ranked Kuchar to inside the top-10 and a likely 8th in the world when the World Rankings are adjusted.

Matt Kuchar on route to a 2 & 1 victory in thefinal of WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Kuchar, who will defend the Players Championship in May, will also pocket a first prize cheque of $US 1.4m for his efforts over the five days.

“What an incredible feeling to be standing on top after six matches,” said Kuchar.

“I have to give Hunter a lot of credit as I got off to a slow start but then pretty quickly I was 4up at the turn and thinking that I will now do to him what he did to me last year in beating me 6 & 5

“Congratulations to Hunter as he made it a great battle and he played some great golf coming in, and Hunter has a lot to be proud of for making the final in two straight years.

“But to be standing here with this trophy and to see my kids excited and asking me ‘are we going to take the trophy home’ is pretty rewarding to be in this position.

“So to have my family here supporting me and so caring because these are dreams coming true and the dreams I had when I was a kid as these little boys standing here.”

Kuchar was never headed in his match against his 2012 Ryder Cup colleague winning three holes in succession from the  be 3up after six holes.

He then went to 4up after a birdie at the 8th before Mahan stopped the rot winning the 10th and 11th holes to be 2 down but Kuchar then won the 13th before Mahan then won the 14th.

The duo then pared the 15th before Mahan played an indifferent second shot at the 16th and conceed victory to Kuchar.