Golf: Watson wins World Golf Championship in Austin

Two-time US champion Bubba Watson from the USA has won the $10 million WGC in Austin/Texas and thus applied for his third title in Augusta. The 39-year-old declassified his compatriot Kevin Kisner in the final with 7 and 6, so the unequal duel was already over after twelve holes.

In the semi-finals, Bubba Watson defeated Justin Thomas (USA), second in the world rankings, 3 and 2, and thus missed the leap to the top of the ranking. There, compatriot Dustin Johnson, who like other favourites had already retired in the group stage, remains enthroned. German professionals were not at the start in Austin.

With his success in Texas, for which he collected nearly 1.4 million euros, Watson now belongs to a select circle of players who have won several major and WGC tournaments. Previously, only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson (both USA), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Ernie Els (South Africa) had succeeded. Watson had won the WGC competition in Shanghai in 2014.

In this form Watson is one of the favourites at the US Masters, the first of four majors of the season, at the beginning of April. Especially since he knows the famous course on Magnolia Lane very well. There he already triumphed in 2012 and 2014.

Kevin Kisner lost to Bubba Watson in the final right from the start. Watson won the first five holes, laying the foundation for his eleventh Tour victory. I’ve only had four or five strokes all week and I’ve briefly lost my concentration,” the man from Baghdad/Florida summed up.