Stenson on top of the world after Match Play triumph

Swede Henrik Stenson, who holed the winning putt for Europe at last year's Ryder Cup, celebrated the biggest victory of his career on Sunday.

The 30-year-old from Gothenburg reeled off successive birdies to complete a 2&1 triumph over defending champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship final.

Despite struggling with his swing for much of a topsy-turvy day at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club, Stenson became the first Swede, and only the second European, to win a World Golf Championships (WGC) event.

"This one is definitely the biggest one of my career," Stenson told reporters after clinching his maiden PGA Tour title and his sixth on the European Tour.

"Winning a WGC event is as close to winning a major without doing it, I guess. Obviously this gives me confidence and a push in the right direction."

The big-hitting Stenson, who broke through on the European Tour by winning the 2001 Benson and Hedges International Open, has triumphed in his last two starts.

Three weeks ago, the Dubai-based Swede held off world number one Tiger Woods and Ernie Els to win the Dubai Desert Classic by a stroke with a birdie at the last.

"Winning back-to-back is something I haven't done before, and those are two great tournaments as well," he said.

"Dubai is one of the most prestigious ones on the European Tour."