Kim beats Allenby to reach World Match Play final

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS AP Sports Writer

CASARES, Spain (AP) - Anthony Kim reached his first World Match Play Championship final by beating Robert Allenby 5 and 4 on Saturday.

Kim, who beat the Australian 5 and 3 at the Presidents Cup, rallied from an early two-hole deficit, pulling away at the 27th hole in near perfect conditions at the Finca Cortesin golf course.

The American first overcame an errant tee shot on the 26th to save par and halve the hole before holing out from 101 yards for an eagle at 27. A birdie on the 28th gave him a four-hole advantage.

Kim will face Masters champion Angel Cabrera or Ross Fisher of England in Sunday's 36-hole final. Fisher was 1-up with three holes to play.

Kim said his par save at the 26th was the key.

"That was the hole that really sealed it for me," he said.

The American barely held on to his driver at the 26th as his ball sailed left into the bushes.

After taking relief, Kim pitched to 2 feet for his par while Allenby missed a chance to trim the deficit to one hole by flubbing a chip and then pushing his birdie putt wide.

"What happened was pretty crucial because he gave me a gift," Kim said. "He just miss-hit his chip a little and made par."

Kim was elated at the 27th - a short par 4 - after his sand wedge landed a few feet long before back-spinning into the hole. He then sank his birdie putt on the 28th for a four-hole advantage over Allenby, who missed from 4 feet.

Allenby missed several opportunities to get within one before Kim pushed out.

Kim cruised from the 30th after putting his drive within 3 feet for a 5-up advantage and a chance at the $1.1 million prize.

"This is a very big tournament for me because it's been a very tough year," Kim said. "It's very rewarding to come out here ... and put on a good show."

The last American to win the event was Corey Pavin in 1993. Shaun Micheel reached the final in 2006.