American Bubba Watson cruised to a three shot victory and claimed his second Masters title on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club. The 2012 champion finished at 8-under par after rounds of 69-68-74-69 and added a second Green Jacket to his locker at the club with three birdies late on the front nine. He played the infamous back nine in even par to secure the title. Australia&aposs John Senden fired a final round 1-over par 73 to finish in a tie for 8th which confirms his place in the 2015 Masters field (the top 12 players and ties from the previous year earn invitations). Defending champion Adam Scott holed a snaking downhill putt on the 18th green to finish with a final round even par 72 at 1-over par in a tie for 14th place. Jason Day fought back from difficult early rounds to finish in a tie 21st. Steven Bowditch finished in a tie for 26th Amateur Oliver Goss won the low amateur honours after shooting 76-75 on the weekend to finish in 49th place. 20 year-old Masters rookie Jordan Spieth started the day as a co-leader with Watson and finished with an even par 72 to tie with Sweden&aposs Jonas Blixt, also a Masters debutant, at 5-under par. Miguel Angel Jimenez, a 50-year-old Spaniard who jumped into contention Saturday with a six-under 66, finished fourth at four-under 284 after a 71. The only other golfers to finish under par were Americans Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar at 2-under and England&aposs Lee Westwood at 1-under. “The first one for me, it s almost like I lucked into it. After giving it away last year, I wanted it back. I told Adam we could just swap it back and forth every year. This one was a lot of hard work and dedication,” Watson said. Watson earned $1.62 million for the victory, his eighth as a pro and sixth on the PGA Tour. The Masters paid out a record $9 million in prize money. Spieth was trying to become the youngest Masters champion, and the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win in his first start at Augusta National. Conditions were excellent again, with mostly sunny skies and temps in the low 80s.
Author: Golf Australia