INCAgolf All you ever wanted to know about golf (well almost)

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SAN DIEGO, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Best known for his power hitting with a pink-shafted driver, American Bubba Watson became only the fifth left-hander to win multiple times on the PGA Tour after clinching the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday.

The 32-year-old cemented his place alongside fellow southpaws Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir, Bob Charles and Steve Flesch with a one-stroke victory at Torrey Pines and is likely to break into the world’s top 20 for the first time on Monday.

Though he played superbly in the final round under intense pressure as he closed with a five-under-par 67 on the South Course, Watson said he felt like a bag of nerves in pursuit of his second triumph on the U.S. circuit.

“I was scared to death out there,” the long-hitting Watson told reporters after holding off a late charge by three-times winner Mickelson, who finished alone in second place.

“No matter how many rounds of golf you played, how many times you’ve been in the lead, and how many times you’ve won, you still get nervous.

“I kept telling myself I’ve done this before. I’ve hit many golf balls. I can do this. I’ve shot many low rounds before. It’s just this time happens to be with the crowd and media and everybody in the world watching.”

One ahead of the chasing pack playing the last, Watson signed off with a birdie four and a 16-under total of 272. He then waited for Mickelson, in the final group, to finish one stroke behind him with a matching birdie on 18.

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=reu-pgawatson_pix

Martin Kaymer shot a 6-under par 66 on Sunday to win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by eight shots and climb above Tiger Woods as No. 2 in the world rankings.
Kaymer held a five-shot lead going into the day and had no problem securing his third win in four years in Abu Dhabi, finishing with a 24-under total of 264. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland finished second after a final-round 69, while Retief Goosen and Graeme McDowell were another two shots back in third.

It was the biggest winning margin and lowest total score in the history of the tournament.
The victory will lift Kaymer from third to second in the world rankings, above Woods but still below Lee Westwood.

 http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/Abu-Dhabi-Golf-Championship-Martin-Kaymer-win-012311

Jhonattan Vegas made a 13-foot par putt on the second playoff hole to win the Bob Hope Classic on Sunday, holding off Gary Woodland for his first PGA Tour victory.

The first Venezuelan to win a PGA Tour event, the rookie won in just his fifth tour start despite hitting his tee shot in the water on the 92nd hole of the five-day tournament. Vegas capitalized when Woodland made two poor chip shots, pumping his fist in celebration after his putt fell.

”It’s a dream come true,” said Vegas, the first rookie to win the 52-year-old Hope. ”It’s something you dream about, but you have to make it happen.”

Vegas and Woodland eliminated defending champion Bill Haas with birdies on the first playoff hole after all three finished the final round at 27-under 333. Vegas is the third straight player to get his first PGA Tour victory at the Hope, joining Pat Perez and Haas.

Wilson shot a 5-under 65 in the morning to take a one-shot lead into the afternoon round. He stretched his lead to four shots at the turn, then had to hang on when Tim Clark (FSY) and Steve Marino (FSY) made late runs on different sides of Waialae.

Clark, who started the final round five shots behind, birdied three of his last four holes. He narrowly missed an eagle putt on the ninth hole and settled for a 64. Then came Marino with two late birdies and one incredible shot that at least gave him hope.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/default.htm