LATINO SPORTS NETWORK
BY MICHAEL ROJAS
GOLF EDITOR
Pacific Palisades, CA 2/18/18
Bubba Watson
After beginning the final round of the Genesis Open with a one-stroke lead over Patrick Cantlay, Bubba Watson carded a
2-under 69 to finish 12-under 272, good for a two-stroke win over Kevin Na and Tony Finau.
Watson’s 10th PGA TOUR victory, his first since winning the 2016 Genesis Open, comes in his 279th start at the age of
39 years, 3 months and 13 days.
Watson claims his third victory at the Genesis Open. In 2016, he defeated Jason Kokrak and Adam Scott by one shot,
finishing at 15-under. In 2014, he recorded matching bogey-free 64s on the weekend to win by two over Dustin Johnson.
Watson’s PGA TOUR victories (10):
2010 Travelers Championship.
2011 Farmers Insurance Open, Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
2012 Masters Tournament.
2014 Genesis Open, Masters Tournament.
2015 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, Travelers Championship.
2016 Genesis Open
2018 Genesis Open
With the victory, Watson earns 500 points and moves from No. 166 to No. 18 in the FedExCup standings.
Watson ties Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer with his third Genesis Open victory:
• Four-Time Winners: MacDonald Smith (1928, 1929, 1932, 1934), Lloyd Mangrum (1949, 1951, 1953,
1956)
• Three-Time Winners: Ben Hogan (1942, 1947, 1948), Arnold Palmer (1963, 1966, 1967), Bubba Watson
(2014, 2016, 2018).
• Two-Time Winners: Harry Cooper (1926, 1937), Sam Snead (1945, 1950), Paul Harney (1964, 1965),
Billy Casper (1968, 1970), Gil Morgan (1978, 1983), Lanny Wadkins (1979, 1985), Tom Watson (1980,
1982), Fred Couples (1990, 1992), Corey Pavin (1994, 1995), Mike Weir (2003, 2004), Phil Mickelson
(2008, 2009).
During the FedExCup era, Watson has never failed to advance at least to the second Playoffs event, led by back-to-back
fifth-place finishes in the FedExCup in 2014 and 2015.
Watson is coming off his worst season on the PGA TOUR, finishing 75th in the FedExCup and recording just six top-25s.
Watson’s last top-five on the PGA TOUR came last year at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, playing with J.B. Holmes
in the team event. His last top-five in an individual stroke-play event came at the 2016 World Golf ChampionshipsMexico
Championship the next start after his most recent victory at the Genesis Open. The 2016 Genesis Open was
also the last time Watson was in the final group on the final day.
Following Ted Potter, Jr.’s win last week at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Watson’s victory marks the first time the
TOUR has had back-to-back lefthanded winners since Phil Mickelson won the 2006 BellSouth Classic and Masters.
Most wins by lefthanders on the PGA TOUR:
42 – Phil Mickelson
10 – Bubba Watson
8 – Mike Weir
6 – Bob Charles
4 – Steve Flesch
2 – Brian Harman, Ted Potter, Jr.
1 – Sam Adams, Ernie Gonzales, Russ Cochran, Eric Axley, Greg Chalmers, Cody Gribble
So far in the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season, Watson has made five of six cuts with his best previous-best finish coming
last week, a T35 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
This is the 11th time Watson has held at least a share of the 54-hole lead, recording four victories in those instances
(including the 2016 and 2018 Genesis Open). At the 2014 Genesis Open, Watson was T6 entering the final round.
Watson eagled the opening hole at Riviera during the third round, his 128th eagle since 2007. Watson has the most
eagles of any player on the PGA TOUR since 2007, with Dustin Johnson (123), Charley Hoffman (108) and Charles
Howell III (108) next on the list.
Watson’s week included taking part in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday at the Staples Center in downtown Los
Angeles, recording two points on free throws in a winning effort.
2017-18 starts-made cuts-top-10s-wins: 6-5-1-1
PGA TOUR career starts-made cuts-top-10s-wins: 279-202-57-10
Watson’s stats for the week:
R1 – 7 of 14 fairways, 13 of 18 greens in regulation, 3 of 5 scrambling, 29 putts.
R2 – 6 of 14 fairways, 13 of 18 greens in regulation, 2 of 5 scrambling, 29 putts.
R3 – 10 of 14 fairways, 11 of 18 greens in regulation, 6 of 7 scrambling, 24 putts.
R4 – 9 of 14 fairways, 9 of 18 greens in regulation, 7 of 9 scrambling, 26 putts.
Watson’s Strokes Gained Summary (week):
Off-the-Tee +2.461 (17th)
Tee-to-Green +11.257 (2nd)
Approach-the-Green +4.460 (11th)
Around-the-Green +4.335 (6th)
Putting +3.069 (21st)
About Bubba Watson
Height/Weight: 6-3, 180
Birthdate: November 5, 1978
Birthplace: Bagdad, Florida
Residence: Orlando, Florida
Family: Wife, Angie; Caleb, Dakota Hope
Education: Faulkner State Community College; University of Georgia (2008, Consumer Economics)
Turned pro: 2002
Joined TOUR: 2006
Web.com Tour Graduate: 2005
Third-Round Lead Notes
Since 2000, only nine 54-hole leaders of the Genesis Open have converted for the win. Since 2010, five have done so:
Steve Stricker (2010), Aaron Baddeley (2011), Bubba Watson (2016), Dustin Johnson (2017) and Bubba Watson (2018).
Eight of 15 third-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win this season, most recently Bubba Watson this week.
Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson posted a 3-under 68 to finish T6, four strokes behind champion Bubba Watson. Making his 577th
official PGA TOUR start (97th since his last win on TOUR at the 2013 Open Championship), Mickelson remains in
search of his 43rd TOUR win.
Mickelson recorded his third-consecutive top-10 finish on the PGA TOUR (T5-Waste Management Phoenix Open,
T2-AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, T6-Genesis Open). The last time he had three straight top-10s came in 2009 (1-
Genesis Open, T9-World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play Championship, 1-World Golf ChampionshipsMexico
Championship).
Mickelson, at the age of 47 years, 8 months and 2 days on Sunday, was seeking to become the oldest winner of
the Genesis Open (since age records exist in 1959. Charlie Sifford is the oldest winner at the event, winning in
1969 at the age of 46 years, 7 months and 10 days.
The finish for Mickelson was his fifth top-10 finish in 17 starts at the Genesis Open (2-2007, 1-2008, 1-2009, T2-
2012, T6-2018).
Had he won on Sunday, Mickelson would have moved to fourth on the list of most years between first and last
victory on TOUR (27 years, 1 month and 8 days since winning on January 10, 1991). Here’s the current list:
28 years, 11 months, 20 days, Raymond Floyd (March 17, 1963-March 8, 1992)
28 years, 6 months, 28 days, Sam Snead (April 7, 1936-April 4, 1965)
28 years, 4 months, 4 days, Davis Love III (April 19, 1987-August 23, 2015)
23 years, 11 months, 24 days, Tom Watson (June 30, 1974-May 24, 1998)
23 years, 11 months, 5 days, Macdonald Smith (August 28, 1912-August 2, 1936)
23 years, 9 months, 27 days, Jack Nicklaus (June 17, 1962-April 13, 1986)
23 years, 3 months, 7 days, Gene Littler (January 24, 1954-May 1, 1977)
22 years, 10 months, 19 days, Jim Barnes (August 26, 1914-July 15, 1937)
Additional Player Notes
Kevin Na finished T2 for his fourth top-10 finish in 15 starts at the Genesis Open (T10-2010, 3-2011, T4-2017, T2-2018).
The 2011 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open champion now has nine runner-up finishes in 359 starts on TOUR, with
this being his first since back-to-back runner-up finishes at the 2015 Safeway Open (P2) and Shriners Hospitals for
Children Open (T2).
With limited success in three previous starts at the Genesis Open (T56-2015, MC-2016, MC-2017), Tony Finau finished
T2 this week for his second runner-up finish and third top-10 of the season (2-Safeway Open, T6-Farmers Insurance
Open, T2-Genesis Open). The 2016 Puerto Rico Open champion now has two second-place finishes in 99 starts on
TOUR, with both coming this season.
Scott Stallings followed last week’s T7 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a T4 effort this week at the Genesis
Open. The last time he finished inside the top 10 in back-to-back weeks was at the 2017 John Deere Classic (T5) and
Barbasol Championship (T3). This week marked his first top-10 finish in four starts at the Genesis Open (T45-2014, 66-
2015, MC-2016, T4-2018).
Patrick Cantlay, T4 this week, has missed the cut in his two previous appearances at the Genesis Open (2012/78-72,
2013/70-75). Cantlay now owns four top-15 finishes in six starts this season, led by his victory at the 2017 Shriners
Hospitals for Children Open, winning in a playoff over Alex Cejka and Whee Kim. Cantlay joined 2017 PGA TOUR
Rookie of the Year Xander Schauffele as the only rookies to advance all the way to the 2017 TOUR Championship in the
FedExCup Playoffs.
After making the cut on the number this week, Adam Hadwin closed with matching rounds of 5-under 66 to finish T6, his
best finish in four starts at the Genesis Open (T16 in 2016). Hadwin, who played his final 39 holes this week without a
bogey, jumped from outside the top 100 entering the West Coast swing to a current FedExCup ranking of 40th, thanks to
four made cuts and top-10 finishes at the CareerBuilder Challenge (T3) and Genesis Open (T6).
Australia’s Cameron Smith had played his last 41 holes at The Riviera Country Club without a bogey until doing so on
the par-3 fourth hole Sunday. He went on to post an even-par 71 to finish T6, his best result in three starts at the
Genesis Open (T63-2016, T28-2017, T6-2018).
Jordan Spieth had seven bogeys on the week at The Riviera Country Club, with three of them coming in the first three
rounds on the par-3 16th hole. With a final-round 4-under 67, Spieth (T9) recorded his third top-15 finish in six starts at
the Genesis Open (T12-2014, T4-2015, T9-2018).
Reigning PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Xander Schauffele closed with matching 3-under 68s to finish T9, his second
top-10 finish of the season (T3-CIMB Classic). Schauffele was seeking to become the first player to win the Genesis
Open in his first start at the event since Adam Scott in 2005.
Martin Laird, who finished T9 in his last start at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, finished T9 again this week for
his first back-to-back top-10 finishes (starts) since finishing T5 at the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open and T7 at
the following week’s Farmers Insurance Open. Here’s a look at Laird’s last three starts at the Genesis Open (T11-2016,
T8-2017, T9-2018).
Ryan Moore began his round with an eagle-birdie start en route to a 1-under 70, finishing T9. It marked his third top-10
finish in 12 starts at the Genesis Open (T4-2011, 10-2016, T9-2018).
Reigning FedExCup champion Justin Thomas turned in a final-round 1-under 70 to finish T9, his best outing in four starts
at the Genesis Open (T41-2015, T54-2016, T39-2017, T9-2018). Thomas has yet to finish worse than T22 (Sentry
Tournament of Champions) in six starts this season. He is currently No. 9 in the FedExCup standings.
Defending Genesis Open champion and World No. 1 Dustin Johnson finished T16 in his attempt to become the first
repeat winner of the Genesis Open since Phil Mickelson in 2008 and 2009. Other back-to-back winners include Mike
Weir, Corey Pavin, Paul Harney, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and MacDonald Smith.
Playing on a sponsor exemption, China’s Haotong Li finished T53. Li was one of four players of Chinese heritage in the
field this week, with Zecheng Dou, Xinjun Zhang and C.T. Pan all missing the cut. This week marked the most players
from China playing a PGA TOUR event (outside of WGC-HSBC Champions). Li’s week included an ace on the par-3
sixth hole Saturday with a 6-iron from 189 yards.
With rounds of 72-76, Genesis Open tournament host Tiger Woods missed the cut for just the 25th time in his career. In
11 starts at the Genesis Open, Woods owns four top-10 results. Without a win in 11 starts in this event, the Genesis
Open is the only tournament where Woods has made double-digit appearances and failed to collect a victory.
Miscellaneous Notes
Since 2004, no other hole on the PGA TOUR has yielded more eagles than No. 1 at The Riviera Country Club. Before
this week’s event, 384 total eagles had been made on the opening hole at Riviera. Here’s the round-by-round list of
players who eagled the hole this week:
R1: R. McIlroy, P. Harrington, S. O’Hair, B. Harkins, A. Baddeley, J. Merrick.
R2: R. Moore, B. Harkins, J. Huh, P. Perez, K. Kraft, L. Donald, A. Scott, C. Howell III, P. McLachlin.
R3: B. Watson, K. Na, J. Thomas, D. Johnson, P. Mickelson, T. Gooch, K. Chappell, P. Uihlein, S. Bae.
R4: R. Moore, R. McIlroy, R. Cabrera Bello, M. Kuchar, B. DeChambeau, R. Blaum.
The par-4 10th hole tempts players to ‘go for the green”. Here’s how those players fared this week:
R1: 91 of 144 players went for the green – Thomas Pieters (birdie) and Ted Potter, Jr. (bogey) were successful.
R2: 104 of 142 players went for the green – Jonas Blixt (par) and Martin Flores (par) were successful.
R3: 63 of 76 players went for the green – Troy Merritt (birdie) was successful.
R4: 61 of 76 players went for the green – B. Grace (birdie), K. Kraft (par), K. Streelman (par), A. Ancer (par), T. Gooch
(par), R. Blaum (par) were successful.
Bogey-free rounds:
R1 – Chez Reavie (68).
R2 – Martin Kaymer (67), Cameron Smith (68).
R3 – Dustin Johnson (64), Cameron Smith (65), Adam Hadwin (66).
R4 – None
Scoring Averages
Front 9 Back 9 Total Cumulative
R1: 35.545 36.657 72.203 —
R2: 35.150 36.969 72.118 72.163
R3: 34.618 35.987 70.605 71.648
R4: 34.987 36.395 71.382 71.759