Bubba bags Zurich win

Watson: came through to win at the second extra hole

Bubba Watson secured his second PGA Tour title of 2011 after beating Webb Simpson in a play-off at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Simpson had led by three shots with seven to play but suffered an unfortunate penalty stroke at 15 when his ball moved as he went to tap in for par.

As he’d grounded his club the infringement cost him a shot and meant the scores were tied at 15-under after Simpson had earlier bogeyed 12 and Watson had cut the gap to a shot with a birdie at 13.

Both made pars at 16 and 17 before Watson had a nine foot birdie putt at the last to take victory.

It missed, meaning both signed for 69s to finish two shots clear of the field at 15-under after they’d started the final round as joint leaders.

Simpson appeared to have the edge at the first extra hole, the par five 18th, but Watson stroked in a 10 foot birdie putt to match Simpson’s four and the play-off continued.

Playing the 18th again, Watson flirted with the water down the right with his tee-shot, his ball eventually catching a bunker.

But from there he lashed a second shot onto the green and his two-putt birdie was enough to secure victory after Simpson, seeking his first PGA Tour win, failed to get up and down from sand.

Jason Dufner, with a best of the day 66, tied for third place with fellow American Tommy Gainey and Korean KJ Choi – the trio all finishing two shots back on 13-under.

England’s Luke Donald finished strongly with four birdies in his final six holes to take a share of eighth.