Harold Varner III drained a colossal 92-foot putt for an 72nd hole eagle to beat fellow American Bubba Watson by one stroke at the Saudi International.
Varner III needed a birdie four to take Watson to a play-off on the final day of the $5 million Asian Tour event, which was held at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. However, his snaking effort from the fairway of the closing hole was judged to perfection, dropping into the cup to his elation, sparking scenes of wild celebration between the Ohio-native and his caddie Chris Rice.
Varner III won the Asia Tour’s Saudi International after holing a 92-foot eagle putt on the final hole
“I’m just trying to take it in,” said Varner III, who picked up a first prize of $1m. “Winning just never gets old. I just know that there’s been times where it just didn’t go my way and today it did. I’m super thrilled not just for myself, but everyone that’s either on my team or in my corner.”
The 31-year-old headed into Sunday’s final round with a one-shot lead over Spain’s Adri Arnaus. By the time they made the turn, they were tied at the top – with a five-under-par front-nine 30 establishing Watson as the pair’s only real contender.
Watson’s back nine proved a little more inconsistent, but a closing eagle on 18 cemented him a two-shot clubhouse lead as Varner III and Arnaus battled to bogey fours on Royal Greens’ 16th hole, as the course’s infamous afternoon winds picked-up.
A well-taken birdie on 17 put the American in need of a closing birdie to take his good friend Watson to a deciding play-off. However, Varner III had other ideas. Opting to putt from the fairway on 18, his stroke traversed 120 feet across the undulating green, picking-up just enough speed as it passed beyond the plateau to continue its move right-to-left and drop into the cup.
“It was awesome,” said Varner III, looking back at the momentous putt. “Obviously that it went in kind of helped! When I was coming down the hill, worst case scenario was that we’ll go to a play-off, and I’d get him there. And then it went in, and emotions came out. I love that. When I play with my boys, that’s the emotion I want to see. That’s why you play. Competition, it’s the greatest thing in the world.”
Arnaus shot a one-over-par 71 to finish on -10, third behind Varner III and Watson. England’s Steve Lewton and Cameron Smith finished one further back on -9.
Tommy Fleetwood who played alongside Varner in the final group shot a closing 73 to finish tied eighth alongside defending Saudi International champion Dustin Johnson and four others on -7.
To check out the final leaderboard, click here.
The post Varner holes monster eagle putt on final hole to win Saudi International appeared first on Golf News.
Leave a comment