Watson wins playoff, gets worked up

Bubba Watson celebrates after hitting his approach shot on the first playoff hole during the final round of the PGA Travelers Championship on Sunday in Cromwell, Conn. Watson won the tournament on the second playoff hole.
Bubba Watson celebrates after hitting his approach shot on the first playoff hole during the final round of the PGA Travelers Championship on Sunday in Cromwell, Conn. Watson won the tournament on the second playoff hole.

— Bubba Watson really wanted to play well at the Travelers Championship to impress U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin.

He did.

Watson overcame a six stroke deficit Sunday to force a playoff with Pavin and Scott Verplank, then beat Verplank with a par on the second playoff hole.

Watson, the long-hitting left-hander from the Florida Panhandle, closed with a 4-under 66 to match Verplank (64) and Pavin (66) at 14 under. Pavin dropped out on the first extra hole.

After making a 3-footer on the par-3 16th to win, Watson hugged wife Angie and began crying. He said he was so nervous, he could not feel his arms on the final putt.

“I’m a very emotional guy,” he said. “I cry all the time. When I go to church on Sunday, I cry at church. I couldn’t get the ‘Yes’ out of ‘I do’ at my wedding. The pastor said, ‘You got to say it. You can’t just nod. You can’t nod.’

“Everybody has issues. My family had some issues. My dad is battling cancer. My wife last year thought she had a tumor in her brain. We got lucky with that one, and now, we’re battling with my dad. It’s emotional.”

Verplank left his tee shot short and left of the green on the second playoff hole and missed an 8-foot par putt. Watson, who had a 48-footer for birdie, was able to steady his nerves enough to get it close.

The 50-year-old Pavin, who was taking a break from the Champions Tour to scout players for the Ryder Cup, was eliminated on the first playoff hole after hitting his tee shot just 219 yards (101 yards shorter than Watson) and putting his approach into a bunker short of the 18th green. He chipped to 3 feet, earning a standing ovation.

Justin Rose, coming off his first PGA Tour victory this month at the Memorial, had a three-stroke lead entering the round. But the 29-year-old Englishman shot a 75 to tie for ninth at 11 under.

Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a final-round 72, matching his third-round score, to finish at 2-over 282. He earned $11,640.

CHAMPIONS

Roberts tops Funk

ENDICOTT, N.Y. - Loren Roberts birdied the final hole for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke victory over Fred Funk in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

Roberts hit a pitching wedge to 6 feet to set up the winning birdie at En-Joie Golf Club. He finished at 15-under 201 for his 12th Champions Tour title.

PGA EUROPEAN

Horsey takes first title

MUNICH - England’s David Horsey won the BMW International Open for his first PGA European Tour title, making a 5-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke victory over countryman Ross Fisher.

Horsey finished at 18-under 270. Fisher closed with a 70.

NATIONWIDE

Lovemark wins on eagle

LEON, Mexico - Jamie Lovemark won the Mexico Open Bicentenary on Sunday for his first Nationwide Tour victory, beating B.J. Staten with a 3-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a playoff at El Bosque Country Club.

Lovemark, the 22-year-old former Southern California star who won the 2007 NCAA title, closed with a 4-under 68 to match Staten (69) at 12-under 276, then hit a 6-iron from 235 yards to set up his winning eagle on the 567-yard 18th hole.

Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a final-round 70 to finish four strokes back at 8-under 280. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a 70 for 283, and Nick Beach (Fayetteville, Razorbacks) also shot 70 in the final round for 287.

PGA PROFESSIONAL

Paeglow leads

FRENCH LICK, Ind. - David Paeglow of DeKalb, Ill., shot a 5-under 65 Sunday on The Donald Ross Course at French Lick Resort to take the lead during the suspended first round of the PGA Professional National Championship.

Forty-five of the 312 players were unable to complete the rain-delayed round because of darkness.

Jeff Hull and Troy Pare were tied for second after 67s. Little Rock’s Grant Masson shot a 68 and is in a four-way tie for fourth.

The final top 20 will earn spots in the PGA Championship on Aug. 12-15 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Sports, Pages 18 on 06/28/2010

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