Bubba Watson Plays Bubba Golf To Win HSBC Champions

Sep 24, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; USA player Bubba Watson tees off on the 12th hole during a practice round for the 2014 Ryder Cup at The Gleneagles Hotel-PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s see if we can explain it in a nutshell…two-time Masters Champ, Bubba Watson goes to the 16th tee with a two shot lead at The WGC-HSBC Champions on Sunday afternoon in Shanghai, and leaves the 17th green, one shot down. He finds the greenside bunker on the par five 72nd hole, gets irritated because of a camera click, then proceeds to hole the bunker shot for eagle three. Makes a 20 foot putt on the first playoff hole(the 18th again) to win. Sounds like Bubba Golf to me!

Bubba Watson wins his first WGC tournament, and third on a year that included a new Green Jacket. Watson had knocked on the door all week at the Sheshan International Golf Resort in Shanghai, and on Sunday afternoon, the Golf God answered.

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There is no doubt that the 36 year-old Watson can put some big numbers up around a golf course, but with his big drives, quirky swing, and the ability to move the ball in every direction, has the ability to make up ground in a hurry as well.

We’ve al seen Watson get disgusted with fans, cameras, and layouts that he doesn’t like, and it happened yet again on Sunday in the bunker at the 18th hole. Someone took a pic from the hospitality suite and interrupted his routine. Then he shook it off, and holed out.

"“You always joke about holing it,” Watson said. “And then it actually went in. So I didn’t know how to react, and so I just kind of screamed and I lost my voice a little bit. It was one of those shots — one-in-a-lifetime kind of shot.”"

It wasn’t stellar play on Sunday in the cool rainy conditions, but a two under par 70 on the day was good for a trip to extra holes with South African, Tim Clark, and the win. Clark birdied the 18th hole to pull one ahead of the masses that were at 10 under par on the tournament with a chance to win in the playoff.

It seemed that after the bogey at 16, Bubba opened the door for those chasing, including major champion pedigree like Martin Kaymer, who shot the low round on Saturday, and was looking for the win. Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell and newcomer Hiroshi Iwata all had their chances until Bubba holed out from the bunker at 18.

Graeme McDowell lead through three rounds, but the 71 he shot on Saturday turned into a 73 in the finale’ and left the 2010 US Open champ on the outside looking in.

McDowell started missing fairways on Saturday, and with the added rough and narrower landing areas at Sheshan International, played out of position all day on Sunday. He couldn’t seem to catch a break all day, and his putter didn’t bail out. It is yet another close call for the popular Northern Irishman.

Rickie Fowler played well in his first start since the Ryder Cup, but looked a little rusty all week in Shanghai. I’m sure he will take a T3 finish at this point, and move on.

Hioshi Iwata played well in this star-studded field, and although he didn’t win, he showed the world that he can play at this level. I’m sure that a T3 finish at a WGC event like this will get him some much-needed status, and more opportunities down the road to play in bigger tournaments.

Source: PGATour.com

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