Augusta, United States: Bubba Watson flourished once again on golf’s grandest stage, securing his second Green Jacket in three years, this time in regulation play instead of a dramatic play-off.
The American left-hander secured a three-stroke win over fellow Titleist Pro V1x loyalists and Masters rookies Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt, who finished in a tie for second. Watson closed with a three-under 69 en route to an eight-under 280 victory total.
The win also marked Watson’s second of the year (Northern Trust Open) and the sixth of his PGA Tour career.
Rickie Fowler (Pro V1x) finished tied fifth for his best career Masters finish, while Lee Westwood (Pro V1x) placed solo seventh as Titleist golf ball loyalists occupied five of the top seven positions on the leaderboard.
Watson, who became the 17th player to win the Masters more than once, had his second Green Jacket presented to him by last year’s champion, Titleist Brand Ambassador Adam Scott.
The victory vaulted Watson into a career-best fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking, just behind Scott (2nd) and fellow Titleist golf ball loyalist Henrik Stenson (3rd). Spieth continued his meteoric rise up the ranking, entering the top-10 for the first time at number nine.
Titleist was the top golf ball choice of 51 players in the limited-field event, more than three times the nearest competitor with 15. Titleist also topped the field in iron sets (21), wedges (82) and putters (29/tie).
Watson’s win marked the 15th for Titleist players through the first 22 events on the 2013-14 PGA Tour season, five times the nearest competitor with three.
Fry/Straka Hailed for ‘Extraordinary’ Kenwood Renovation
Ohio, United States: The 36-hole Kenwood Country Club has planned a June grand re-opening for its Kendale Course, a Golden Age layout where Fry/Straka Global Golf Course Design has completed a US$5 million renovation.
