Watson denies Thomas, cruises in final
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Bubba Watson was in high spirits for someone with such low expectations at the Dell Technologies Match Play.
Walking to the sixth tee, already 2 up in his semifinal match against Justin Thomas, he smiled and said, “Just remember, I was beating No. 1 at some point.” Thomas only had to win that match to reach No. 1 in the world, and Watson figured that’s what would happen.
It was about the only thing he got wrong Sunday.
Watson denied Thomas with a brand of golf that was close to flawless, and then he made the final look as though he were on vacation all along. Watson won his second World Golf Championship with the biggest blowout since the title match switched to 18 holes in 2011, a 7-and-6 victory over Kevin Kisner.
He sure didn’t expect to play only 28 holes in two matches on the final day at Austin Country Club, lead after every one of them, and pose with the trophy.
“There’s stories all different directions that didn’t go the way I saw it,” hesaid. “It workedout in my favor. I’m glad I didn’t see it.”
Watson wasn’t as sharp in the final as he was in his 3-and-2 victory over Thomas, and didn’t have to be. If not for missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the sixth hole of the championship match, Watson would have won the first seven holes.
Kisner contributed to that. After escaping in19 holes against Alex Noren in the semifinals, in which Noren had putts of10 feet and 7 feet on the last two holes to win, Kisner didn’t put upmuch of a fight. Hemadefourstraight bogeys, and only twice was putting for birdie through10 holes.
“I don’t know what was going on. It was just pitiful,” Kisner said. “I’ve just got to forget this12 holes andgetbackto working on the things that got me here.”
Watson never expected to be here, mainly because this fickle format is not his favorite. He reached the semifinals his first year in 2011— losing to Martin Kaymer, the PGA champion, for Kaymertogoto No. 1 in the world — and only made it to the weekend once after that.
So he booked a vacation for Sunday, andthenhadtochangehisplans, which wasagoodproblemto have.
Watson won $1.7 million for his 11th career victory on the PGA Tour.
The tougher match was against Thomas, the PGA champion who was poised to replace DustinJohnsonatNo. 1 in the world.
Thomas said he was too consumed with whatwasatstake in the semifinals — the No. 1 ranking.
“I haven’t had such a hard time not thinking about something so much,” Thomas said. “But I need to be mentally stronger than that, andunderstand that it’s just a match.” Thursday through Sunday TV: Golf Channel, chs. 11, 4