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January 26, 2010

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Late slip costs Watson outright lead at Hope

LONG-HITTING American Bubba Watson tumbled back into a tie for the lead when he double-bogeyed the final hole in Sunday's fourth round of the weather-delayed Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, California.

Two strokes clear playing the par-four 18th on the Nicklaus Private course at PGA West, Watson dumped his approach into water on the way to an ugly six and a three-under 69. That left him at 23-under 265 and level with compatriot Alex Prugh, who carded a 70 on the 7,553-yard SilverRock Resort layout, the longest of the four venues hosting the 90-hole tournament.

South African Tim Clark, hunting his first victory on the PGA Tour, shot a six-birdie 66 at SilverRock to lie joint third at 22-under with American Bill Haas, after a matching 66.

For much of a sun-drenched afternoon in the California desert, it seemed likely Watson would hold an advantage going into the rain-delayed final round of the pro-am event.

After reaching the turn in one-under 35, he coolly birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th and 16th, where he chipped up to a foot, to move two ahead of the chasing pack.

Watson narrowly missed a birdie attempt from eight feet at the par-three 17th before his costly stumble at the last cracked the tournament wide open. That left 14 players bunched within five shots of the lead, setting up the prospect of a birdie slugfest for the final round.

 

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