| -13 H Varner III (USA); -12 B Watson (USA); -ten In Arnaus (spa resort); -9 S Lewton (Eng), C Smith (Australia) |
| Others selected: -seven T Fleetwood (English), D Johnson (USA) |
American Harold Varner III made a stunning 120-foot eagle putt on the 18th to beat an inspired Bubba Watson and win the Saudi International.
Varner, 31, needed to birdie the par-five last hole to force a play-off with the former Masters champion, who carded six-under 64 in the final round.
Varner, the world number 99, shot a closing 69 to finish on 13 under and seal his second career title with a shot.
American Watson birdied five on the front nine in a sensational charge.
He lost shots in the 11th but, like Varner, also took three in the long 18th to finish three shots clear of Spaniard Adri Arnaus in third.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson shot an even 70 to finish tied for eighth alongside England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who fell out of favor with a 73.
Varner dropped two shots on the 14th to set up a tense finish with Watson in the clubhouse at 12 under – but a birdie on the 17th and his sensational long putt on the 18th meant there was no need for any extra holes.
“I figured if I could pull one under the rest of the way, the last seven holes would probably get me a top five after I double-bogeyed at 11,” Watson said.
“I made the eagle (the 18th), and I looked up and saw that I had a two-stroke lead.
“Then I thought I had a great chance, but obviously he shot better than me to win. So it was a crazy back nine and a fun back nine.”
