DORAL, Fla. – Nick Watney wound up in another duel at Doral, this one with a much sweeter ending.

Watney poured in two key putts for par along the back nine of the Blue Monster on Sunday, then hit two fearless shots on the 18th and finished with a birdie for and a 5-under 67 to win the Cadillac Championship by two shots over Dustin Johnson.

It was the third victory of Watney’s career, and by far the biggest.

The 29-year-old American captured a World Golf Championship, and earned a measure of redemption on the Blue Monster. It was two years ago when Watney battled Phil Mickelson shot for shot on the weekend, only for his 30-foot birdie putt on the last hole to stop one turn short of a chance at a playoff.

This time, Watney left nothing to chance.

With a one-shot lead playing the 18th — where he had put his tee shot into the water on Saturday for a double bogey — Watney drilled his drive over 300 yards down the middle of the fairway, and hit his approach to 12 feet above the hole. He pumped his fist when it fell for birdie, knowing that Johnson would have to hole out from the fairway to tie him.

Advertisement

“I’m not sure it owed me one,” Watney said at the trophy presentation. “I think I settled the score. If you keep working hard, you get back in that situation. And luckily today, I was able to do a little better.” 

PGA: Michael Bradley won the Puerto Rico Open for the second time in three years, beating Troy Matteson in a playoff at Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

The 44-year-old Bradley closed with his fourth straight 4-under 68 to match Matteson (72) at 16-under 272 at Trump International Golf Club, then parred the par-5 18th in the playoff for his fourth PGA Tour victory.

Stephen Ames (66) and Hunter Haas (71) tied for third at 14 under.

 

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Nick Price won the Toshiba Classic, holding off Mark Wiebe by a stroke in Newport Beach, Calif. Wiebe shot a 67. Japan’s Joe Ozaki (67) and Michael Allen (66) tied for third at 14 under. Fred Couples (67) was another stroke back along with Brad Bryant (65) and Robert Thompson (66).

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.