Toms wins Match Play title in grand style

CARLSBAD, Calif. – David Toms played the best golf of his life, put his name in the record book with the biggest blowout in the Match Play Championship and barely broke a sweat while earning $1.3 million.

All he lacked was an explanation.

A major champion but hardly a juggernaut, Toms rolled through Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott to reach the semifinals, then beat Ian Poulter with the most dynamic stretch of golf ever seen at La Costa Resort.

He found an ever higher gear Sunday in the 36-hole final against Chris DiMarco, beating him so badly that Toms caught himself rehearsing his victory speech with 11 holes left in the match.

“I can’t explain why I felt like I did all week,” Toms said. “I just felt very, very comfortable with myself and the golf that was in front of me. I don’t know that I’ve ever really felt like that.”

Toms delivered the most dominant performance in the seven-year history of this fickle tournament, winning eight out of nine holes to put away DiMarco before lunch, then pouring it on in the afternoon.

The score was 6 and 5, by two holes the largest margin of victory in the Accenture Match Play Championship.

And it could have been worse.

Toms was 9 up at one point and had a chance to end the match on the 27th hole. Tournament officials trailed Toms over the final four holes with the Walter Hagen Trophy and a podium in the cart, waiting to set up the trophy presentation when the drubbing was over.

“That’s the worst beating I’ve taken for sure,” DiMarco said.