Stricker joins Fulke in Matchplay final

American Steve Stricker will be Pierre Fulke's opponent in the 36-hole World Matchplay final.

He beat Japan's Toru Taniguchi 2 and 1 despite originally only being the 26th reserve for the £3m event.

Stricker was runner-up to Vijay Singh in the 1998 USPGA championship, but in his own words has "fallen off the golf world" since then.

This is his first tournament since early September - and he has made a cut in one since before the Open at St Andrews last July.

Matchplay gave him the chance to shine, however, and he was never caught by Taniguchi from the moment he won the first with a par four.

Three up after 11, he was brought back to one, but took the 16th and halved the next to go through.

"I'm having to pinch myself," he said. "I was not in the tournament and now I have the chance to win it."