Bubba Watson wins WGC-HSBC Champions

Bubba Watson of the USA produced a remarkable finish to win the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a playoff against South Africa’s Tim Clark.

Bubba Watson of the USA produced a remarkable finish to win the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a playoff against South Africa’s Tim Clark.

Watson looked to have blown his chance of victory after bogeying the 16th hole then stumbling to a double-bogey at the 17th. But the Masters champion holed his third shot from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole for a sensational eagle three.

Tim Clark of South Africa then tied the left-hander on a four-round total of 11-under-par with a birdie at the home hole. None of the three players in the final group, Graeme McDowell, Hiroshi Iwata and Martin Kaymer, were able to match that score so it was a playoff between Watson and Clark for the title.

The pair returned to the par-5 18th to settle the tournament over sudden-death extra holes. Watson found the greenside bunker he had holed from in regulation play with his second shot, while Clark played his third shot to within 20-feet of the flag.

Watson splashed out of the sand and was left with a birdie putt, slightly shorter than Clark’s. When the South African left his putt short, Watson had a shot at the title. He made a solid stroke and rolled the ball down the slope into the cup for the win. It was his third victory of the year

“The bunker shot I holed was on the same line as the putt,” he said. “To be honest I was trying to two-putt, but it trickled down there and went in. For me this is a big win as I wanted to win outside the USA.”

54-hole leader Graeme McDowell had a disappointing final round of 73 to end the week in a tie for third with Rickie Fowler and Hiroshi Iwata.

WGC-HSBC Champions Sheshan International, Shanghai, China Nov 6-9, purse $8,500,000, par 72

1    Bubba Watson (USA)    71    67    69    70    277    $1,400,000 2    Tim Clark (RSA)        69    70    69    69    277    $850,000 T3    Rickie Fowler (USA)    69    70    69    70    278    $381,667 T3    Hiroshi Iwata (Jap)    73    65    68    72    278    $381,667 T3    Graeme McDowell (NIR) 67    67    71    73    278    $381,667 T6    Ian Poulter (Eng)        70    67    72    71    280    $213,667 T6    Thorbjorn Olesen (Den)    72    68    69    71    280    $213,667 T6    Martin Kaymer (Ger)    69    72    66    73    280    $213,667 9    Marc Leishman (Aus)    72    71    69    69    281    $158,000 T10    Jason Dufner (USA)    72    70    72    68    282    $135,500 T10    Brandt Snedeker (USA)    69    74    69    70    282    $135,500

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage