Kaymer in final; to take over top spot

Kaymer beat American Bubba Watson one up in a closely contested semifinal at Dove Mountain's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club and will face Britain's Luke Donald in Sunday's title match.

In-form Donald crushed American Matt Kuchar 6&5 on a blustery afternoon in the Arizona desert to give himself a chance of climbing to a career-high third in the rankings.

Kaymer had his hands full against the big-hitting Watson in a fluctuating contest.
The 26-year-old German went one up at the first, trailed by one after eight holes and then built a two-up lead with two to play.

Watson kept the match alive by sinking a six-foot birdie putt at the par-four 17th to trim Kaymer's advantage to dormie one.

Watson was then bunkered off the tee at the par-four 18th and ended up just short of the green with his approach after his ball spun back off the front edge.

Kaymer, straight down the middle with his drive, struck his second shot through the back of the green before chipping back seven feet past the cup.

Watson hit his third shot to within five feet of the cup before the German coolly rolled in his putt to seal victory.

"The last four or five holes were very up and down," said Kaymer, who will replace Britain's Lee Westwood as world number one on Monday.

"It's very special to be the second German," he added, referring to his compatriot and former world number one Bernhard Langer.

English world number nine Donald charged seven up after 10 holes and held off a brief fightback by Kuchar before sealing victory with his sixth birdie of the match at the par-five 13th.

"I've been playing good this week," Donald said. "I've been stringing together a lot of good rounds, making birdies, and not too many mistakes. It's nice on a long day like this to get done early."

Earlier, the Englishman had reached the last four for the first time by beating American Ryan Moore 5&4. In 27 holes on Saturday, Donald piled up 13 birdies.

In Saturday morning's other quarterfinals, Kaymer survived a shaky finish to beat 47-year-old Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez one-up.

Kuchar reached the last four with a 2&1 win against South Korean Yang Yong-eun and Watson came from five down to scrape past compatriot J B Holmes after 19 holes.