Watson eagle wins seven man playoff at Boeing Classic

2007-08-27

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SNOQUALMIE, WASHINGTON (TICKER) -- Denis Watson rebounded from a monumental stumble to win a monumental playoff.

After blowing a two-stroke lead with two holes to play in regulation, Watson eagled the second playoff hole to prevail in a seven-man playoff and win the $1.6 million Boeing Classic.

It was the largest playoff in this history of the Champions Tour and worth $240,000.

"Amazing thing, golf, with some of the things that happen," Watson said. "It's tough to win. The emotions just grab you. Getting over that hump is a great thing."

Even with the 18-foot eagle putt, Watson's victory was not secure until R.W. Eaks missed a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.

"It felt like a shootout out there. I don't recall playing in a group that large," Eaks said. "Denis hit three great shots on the last hole. He deserved to win.

Watson barely managed to stay alive on the first hole of the playoff, chipping in for birdie to move onto the next round with Eaks and Craig Stadler, who both lost despite carding birdies.

"I was focusing on being calm on the first playoff hole," Watson said. "My head was in the right place on those two holes. Pretty (darned) great when that putt went in on the second playoff hole."

It was the second victory of the year for the 51-year-old from Zimbabwe, who won the Senior PGA Championship in May and has been a model of consistency in 2007.

Watson has 10 top-10 finishes and had made the cut in all 18 events in which he has entered.

He seemed on the way to an easy victory, taking a two-shot lead with just two holes to play before hitting his tee shot into the water on the 194-yard, par-3 17th.

"Unbelievable," Watson said. "I want 17 over."

Watson ended up with a double-bogey and dropped into a seven-way tie with Stadler (68), Eaks (68), David Eger (66), Joe Ozaki (67), Dana Quigley (68) and Gil Morgan (69). They all finished at 9-under 207.

Watson and Morgan each had a chance to win at 18 in regulation, but both settled for pars after hitting in bunkers.

His victory spoiled the Cinderella story of second-round leader Ray Stewart, who was trying to become the first qualifier to win a Champions Tour event since Pete Oakley at the 2004 Senior British Open.

The 54-year-old Canadian led by four shots entering Sunday but unraveled down the stretch with double-bogeys at Nos. 15 and 17 en route to a 1-over 73. He finished at 8-under 208.

Stewart was still in contention, trailing by one shot until a double-bogey at the par-5 15th dropped him three shots behind Watson. He bounced back with a birdie on 16 but dunked his tee shot in the water on 17 and a birdie at the final hole left him one shot out of the playoff.

In a combined 209 starts on the PGA and Champions tours, Stewart's best finish was a tie for second 20 years ago at the 1987 Bank of Boston Classic.