Bubba Wins Second Green Jacket


Bubba Watson earned his second green jacket in convincing fashion on Sunday. The 35-year-old from Bagdad, Fla., who won at Augusta National Golf Club two years ago, fired a stellar 3-under 69 to finish at 8-under 280, three strokes ahead of Sweden's Jonas Blixt, who shot a 71, and 20-year-old Texan Jordan Spieth (72).

Watson carded five birdies and two bogeys in the final round. Most crucially, four of his birdies came on the last six holes on the front nine, a stretch that separated him from Spieth, who he was tied with after 54 holes and was Watson's playing partner in the final group.

Watson's final birdie of the day came on the par-5 13th. From there, he nursed his lead and played steadily the rest of the way with all pars. After a brilliant 8-iron second shot on the par-4 closing hole, Watson - an emotional sort - got teary as he walked up the final stretch of fairway and the appreciative gallery roared its approval.

Watson easily two-putted for the win. He gave long, emotional hugs to his caddie and Spieth, and then embraced his wife Angie and their young son Caleb. With Caleb in his arms, Watson strolled past the patrons, giving them high-fives.

Watson is the 17th player to win multiple Masters. In the Butler Cabin for the traditional green jacket ceremony- which was placed on him by 2013 champion Adam Scott, Watson was his typical folksy, idiosyncratic self. In addition to the distinctive outerwear, he also collected the winner's check for $1.62 million.

"I was telling my caddie coming up 18, 'I don't remember the last few holes," he told CBS Sports' Jim Nance. "I just remember hanging on.' Walking up 18 was a little bit easier this time."

Added Watson, who beat South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen in 2012 with a brilliant wedge shot from deep in Augusta National's pines during a sudden-death playoff: "This one's a lot different (from 2012). The first one seemed I lucked into it.

"This year involved a lot of hard work . . . It's one of those things that you have dreamed about this your whole life as a kid, if you want to be a professional golfer you've dreamed about it, you've thought about it."

Donning his new green jacket, Watson remarked, "I never loved green so much."

Playing in his first Masters and seeking to become the youngest player ever to win it, Spieth was sailing along in good shape, with birdies on the second and fourth holes. But three bogeys - and two birdies - at the end of the front nine prevented him from keeping pace as Watson charged.

On the home half, Spieth could only muster a bogey and eight pars. Despite his final-round travails, he was thrilled with his performance this week. "It was so much fun," the Dallas native said during a brief TV interview.

"Even if I didn't show it on the back nine, I took it all in. Even though it sits a little hard now, I'll be back."

Finishing alone in fourth at 284 following a 71 was 50-year-old Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who jumped into contention Saturday off the tournament's low round, a 6-under 66.

Sharing fifth at 286 were Americans Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar, who posted a 73 and 74, respectively. England's Lee Westwood also shot 73 to end up in solo seventh at 1-under.

Sharing eighth at even-par 288 were 56-year-old German Bernhard Langer (69), Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (69), Australia's John Senden (73), Denmark's Thomas Bjorn (74), and Americans Jimmy Walker (70) and Kevin Stadler (73).

Tied for 14th at 1-over were Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, England's Justin Rose, Scott, and Americans Stewart Cink, Chris Kirk and Jim Furyk.

In his 30th Masters, Fred Couples began the day only three strokes behind Watson and Spieth. The 1992 champion couldn't muster much magic on Sunday, though, closing with a 75 to drop into a tie for 21st at 290 with first-round leader Bill Haas, Aussie Jason Day and England's Ian Poulter.

Oliver Goss was the only amateur to make the 36-hole cut. Over the weekend the Australian, who attends the University of Tennessee, carded rounds of 76 and 75 to end up in 49th at 10-over 298. Goss turned 20 on Saturday and was presented with a Masters-themed birthday cake for the occasion.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.