Carlsbad, Calif. ? Geoff Ogilvy never imagined himself winning the Match Play Championship. He was too busy looking for the exit.

Ogilvy had already removed his cap when Nick O’Hern stood over a 5-foot putt to win on the 20th hole. That was on Thursday, a lifetime ago. Then came Mike Weir, 4-up with four holes to play in the third round but unable to put away the ultimate survivor of a tournament that requires nothing less

Ten times, Ogilvy was one putt away from going home.

“No one made one,” he said, “which is pretty fortunate.”

Ogilvy ended his long, improbable journey Sunday at La Costa Resort by making short work of Davis Love III, pulling away with a magnificent 4-iron into 6 feet for a conceded eagle and not giving Love the chance everyone else gave him to capture the World Golf Championship.

“Unbelievable,” Ogilvy said after his 3-and-2 victory. “It’s such a hard tournament to believe you’re going to keep going. I got lucky the first four days, and the last two games I played very well.”

It was a week like no other at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Ogilvy easily could have been on his way home after 17 holes in the first round, and wound up playing 129 holes for the week – breaking Jeff Maggert’s record by one hole – and walking off with the $1.3 million prize.

Along the way, he rolled through a Grand Slam list of players who stood in his way – Michael Campbell (U.S. Open), Weir (Masters), Tom Lehman (British Open) and Love (PGA Championship).

For Love, it was another opportunity he let slip away.

He lost to Tiger Woods two years ago, 3 and 2, and was soundly beaten by Woods in the semifinals in 2000. But even with Woods out in the third round, Love couldn’t produce timely shots.

The victory came on the anniversary of Ogilvy’s first PGA Tour trophy last year in Tucson, when Ogilvy was ranked outside the top 64 and not eligible for this event. Now, he will move into the top 30 in the world and probably return to Tucson when the Match Play Championship moves there next year.