Watson's near-flawless effort nails down second WGC title

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, Watson 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 on Sunday.

Watson denied Thomas with a near-flawless performance and then he made the final look as though he were on vacation all along.

The American won his second World Golf Championship with a 7-and-6 victory over Kevin Kisner－the biggest blowout since the title match switched to 18 holes in 2011.

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," he said. "It worked out 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 four-foot putt for birdie on the sixth hole of the championship match, he would have won the first seven holes.

Kisner contributed to that. After escaping in 19 holes against Alex Noren in the semifinals, Kisner didn't put up much of a fight. He made four straight bogeys and only twice was putting for birdie through 10 holes.

"I don't know what was going on. It was just pitiful," Kisner said.

"I've just got to forget these 12 holes and get back to 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 Kaymer to go to No 1 in the world－and only made it to the weekend once after that.

So he booked a family vacation for Sunday, and then had to change his plans.

He pocketed $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 Dustin Johnson at No 1 in the world.

Watson went out to a 3-up lead on the front nine, and when Thomas closed to 1 down at the turn with his first birdie putt, Watson won two of the next three holes to regain control.

Thomas didn't make another birdie until the par-5 16th, and by then it was too late. Watson made his birdie from three feet for the win.

Thomas said he was too consumed with what was at stake in the semifinals－the No 1 ranking.

"I haven't had such a hard time not thinking about something so much. And that really sucked," Thomas said.

"I couldn't stop thinking about it, to be perfectly honest. And I think you're constantly getting questions about it with the media. But I need to be mentally stronger than that, and understand it's just a match."

Noren beat Thomas in the consolation match, 5-and-3.

One year after Watson disappeared from among the elite in golf, he has won twice in his last four starts.

He was No 117 in the world when he arrived for the Genesis Open at Riviera, where in February he won for the third time in his career. With his 11th victory on the PGA Tour, he has shot back up to No 21.

And the two-time Masters champion added his name to the growing list of contenders at Augusta National next month.

AP