Nicolas Colsaerts led three times on the front nine but turned all square with Graeme McDowell in the Volvo World Match Play Championship final.

Last year’s semi-finalist from Belgium struck first with an eagle at the long third, after McDowell made an 18 footer on the first and holed from nine at the next to remain level after missing both greens.

The pair met in the quarter-finals last year, with Colsaerts winning 2 and 1 - and his 25 foot putt on the long third after McDowell almost drove into the lake saw him lead.

The European tour’s longest hitter gave away his early advantage by driving into the lake on the fourth and double-bogeying.

He should have gone back in front on the next, but missed a three foot birdie putt after McDowell had holed from further away for his par five.

Colsaerts made amends with a five foot birdie putt to win the sixth, bogeyed the next, but then went ahead for the third time after McDowell drove into the bushes and had to take a penalty drop, only to once more bogey the very next hole.

McDowell hit his second into the bushes on the long 11th as the wind gusts went over 30mph, but after losing it to a par five it looked as if he would draw level instantly again.

However, he missed from three feet for a half in bogey fours.

For the first time the gap went to two, McDowell hitting what looked dangerously like a shank on the 13th and bogeying again.