Bubba Ends Victory Drought at Riviera

Karrie Webb Punctuates Hall of Fame Career

Chris Duthie

Career resurrections are hardly news on the professional golf tours, yet it’s always pleasing to see them come to fruition.

Bubba Watson’s weekend romp at the Northern Trust Open ended a two-year, 37-PGA-Tour-event-victory drought, while Karrie Webb’s come-from-behind win at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open proved there’s still plenty of quality golf in the dominant player from Down Under.

Watson, who nearly won two weeks ago in Phoenix, played bogey-free over the final 39 holes, shot 64-64 on the weekend and bested by two strokes Dustin Johnson’s final round 66. It was Johnson’s second consecutive runner-up finish and Watson’s first title since the 2012 Masters.

“You never know when your last win is going to be,” said Watson. “My last win could have been the Masters, which would have been a great way to go out. But winning here at Northern Trust is nice. I never felt down that I haven't won yet, but just kept plugging along. And somehow, it fell in my lap today.”

Webb, 39, erased a five-shot deficit going into the final round to claim her fifth Australian Open and 40th LPGA Tour career title. Her wind-carving, four-under 68—including a two-putt birdie on the final hole— was one shot better than third-round co-leader Chella Choi and two clear from Paula Creamer, Karine Icher and 16-year-old sensation Lydia Ko.

“I feel very fortunate to have won today, but I liked my chances at the start of the day because of the wind picking up,” said Webb, who last won at the ShopRite LPGA Classic last May. “If we had another day like we had the first three days, I probably was a little too far back to have a chance, so I was thankful for the weather changing and I played as good as I have in a very long time.”

NEXT UP

PGA Tour: Feb. 19-23; Accenture Match Play Championship; The Golf Club at Dove Mountain; Marana, AZ
LPGA Tour: Feb. 20-23; Honda LPGA Thailand; Chonburi, Thailand
Champions Tour: March 14-16; Toshiba Classic; Newport Beach CC; Newport Beach, CA

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Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.