Casey stumbles to Match Play win

A day after playing some of the best golf of his life, Paul Casey struggled in the second round at the Accenture Match Play Championship today.

In the end though, Casey did just enough to survive, recovering from a slow start to see off Bradley Dredge two and one in an all-British showdown at Dove Mountain.

"That wasn't my best golf, nor was it Bradley's best, and I feel lucky to have come through with a victory," said a relieved Casey.

"I was nine under yesterday and probably even par today, and yet the margin of victory was slightly larger. It was a scrappy game, and sometimes that's the way it goes.

"We both made some mistakes and mine were on the greens. I hit the ball very, very well from tee to green and didn't make the putts.

"Bradley hit a couple of wide tee shots which gave me a couple of holes, and that was the difference at the end of the day."

Casey, who has a home in nearby Scottsdale, admitted he would have to sharpen up on the greens to have a chance of going all the way this week.

"I putted wonderfully yesterday and I think today was just a blip. I've always been a streaky putter in my moments of brilliance. They're few and far between, but they have been quite good on occasions. I just need to be more consistent."

Casey and Dredge made only one birdie between them on the more difficult front nine, Welshman Dredge taking a one-up lead at the turn.

Casey pulled level with a tap-in birdie at the par-five 10th however. He went ahead three holes later when Dredge made double bogey after driving into the desert cacti.

Dredge also got into trouble off the tee at the par-five 17th, running up a bogey, which left Casey needing only a par to win the hole and the match.