Augusta: Big-driving Bubba Watson captured his second Masters title in three years on Sunday, pulling away from Jordan Spieth on the back nine for a three-stroke victory at Augusta National.
The 35-year-old American fired a three-under par 69 Sunday to finish 72 holes on eight-under 280 and take his second major title, the top prize of $1.62 million from a record $9 million purse and another green jacket.
“I never loved green so much,” Watson said. “After giving away that jacket last year, I wanted it back.”
Spieth and Sweden’s Jonas Blixt shared second on 283 with 50-year-old Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez fourth on 284, Americans Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar sharing fifth on 286 and England’s Lee Westwood seventh on 287.
Until a PGA triumph two months ago at Riviera, Watson had not won any title since defeating Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff to win the 2012 Masters, a slump he blamed this week on a hangover effect from his first major crown.
But Watson bounced back in style this week in the year’s first major championship, becoming the 17th multiple winner of the Masters with his sixth career title.
“The first one for me, it’s almost like I lucked into it,” Watson said in comparing his Masters triumphs. “This one was a lot of hard work.
“A small-town guy named Bubba now has two green jackets. That’s pretty wild.”
Spieth owned a two-stroke lead on the eighth tee but fell behind after Watson closed the front nine birdie-birdie while Spieth made bogeys at both holes.
Spieth missed a five-foot par putt at the par-5 eighth while Watson tapped in for birdie to put them both on seven under. Watson curled in a tricky 12-foot birdie putt at the ninth while Spieth lipped out a five-foot par putt.
