Watson triumphs in a playoff
Source: Agencies |
May 3, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LONG-HITTING Bubba Watson maintained ice-cool composure to clinch his third PGA Tour title in a gripping playoff with fellow American Webb Simpson for the Zurich Classic in Avondale, near New Orleans, on Sunday.
Both players birdied the first extra hole, the par-5 18th, and Watson sealed victory there with a four-foot birdie putt the second time around after Simpson missed his own attempt from 12 feet.
Left-hander Watson pumped his left fist in celebration after his winning putt dropped into the cup before shaking hands with Simpson and then being embraced by his wife Angie.
"Somehow now I've got three," a jubilant Watson told reporters at the TPC Louisiana with his third PGA Tour title in 11 months.
"A year ago I was a good player who (had) never won, and now I've got three under my belt so it's crazy. It's something that I could never dream of."
The pair had finished the 72 regulation holes on 15-under 273 after closing with matching 3-under 69s, Watson having narrowly missed a birdie putt from nine feet at the 18th.
Watson then sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to keep the playoff alive. Simpson recorded a two-putt birdie there.
Jason Dufner birdied the last for a best-of-the-day 66 to tie for third at 13-under, level with fellow American Tommy Gainey (69) and South Korea's KJ Choi (69). British world No. 3 Luke Donald birdied four of the last six holes for a 69 to finish in a five-way tie for eighth, five strokes off the pace.
The final round was a two-horse race, though, between overnight leaders Simpson and Watson who duelled for supremacy with a sizzling display of shot-making on the first eight holes.
They each eagled the par-5 second and were 4-under for the day after just five holes.
The tournament appeared to turn decisively at the par-3 9th where Watson found water with a wedge off the tee and double-bogeyed the hole to slip two strokes behind.
Exquisite approach
Simpson, who reached the turn in 4-under 32, then forged three ahead with another birdie at the par-4 10th after an exquisite approach ended up within three feet of the pin. However, Simpson stumbled with a bogey at the 12th and his lead was cut to one when world No. 16 Watson knocked in a four-footer to birdie the 13th.
Simpson suffered a harsh blow at the par-4 15th where he got a one-stroke penalty when his ball fractionally moved in the wind after he had grounded his putter.
Facing a tap-in par putt from one foot, Simpson placed his putter roughly five inches behind the ball without taking a stance and immediately backed away as his ball oscillated.
Both players birdied the first extra hole, the par-5 18th, and Watson sealed victory there with a four-foot birdie putt the second time around after Simpson missed his own attempt from 12 feet.
Left-hander Watson pumped his left fist in celebration after his winning putt dropped into the cup before shaking hands with Simpson and then being embraced by his wife Angie.
"Somehow now I've got three," a jubilant Watson told reporters at the TPC Louisiana with his third PGA Tour title in 11 months.
"A year ago I was a good player who (had) never won, and now I've got three under my belt so it's crazy. It's something that I could never dream of."
The pair had finished the 72 regulation holes on 15-under 273 after closing with matching 3-under 69s, Watson having narrowly missed a birdie putt from nine feet at the 18th.
Watson then sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to keep the playoff alive. Simpson recorded a two-putt birdie there.
Jason Dufner birdied the last for a best-of-the-day 66 to tie for third at 13-under, level with fellow American Tommy Gainey (69) and South Korea's KJ Choi (69). British world No. 3 Luke Donald birdied four of the last six holes for a 69 to finish in a five-way tie for eighth, five strokes off the pace.
The final round was a two-horse race, though, between overnight leaders Simpson and Watson who duelled for supremacy with a sizzling display of shot-making on the first eight holes.
They each eagled the par-5 second and were 4-under for the day after just five holes.
The tournament appeared to turn decisively at the par-3 9th where Watson found water with a wedge off the tee and double-bogeyed the hole to slip two strokes behind.
Exquisite approach
Simpson, who reached the turn in 4-under 32, then forged three ahead with another birdie at the par-4 10th after an exquisite approach ended up within three feet of the pin. However, Simpson stumbled with a bogey at the 12th and his lead was cut to one when world No. 16 Watson knocked in a four-footer to birdie the 13th.
Simpson suffered a harsh blow at the par-4 15th where he got a one-stroke penalty when his ball fractionally moved in the wind after he had grounded his putter.
Facing a tap-in par putt from one foot, Simpson placed his putter roughly five inches behind the ball without taking a stance and immediately backed away as his ball oscillated.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
