Watson rallies for PGA win

Associated Press

AVONDALE, La.

Bubba Watson has been working on becoming a better man.

He figures he’s probably a better player because of it.

Earlier in his career, a double bogey in the middle of a hotly contested final round might have knocked the combustible Watson off his game.

Not anymore.

Watson overcame a three-stroke deficit over the final eight holes of regulation and beat Webb Simpson in a playoff Sunday in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for his second PGA Tour victory of the year and third of his career.

“My wife, my caddie and my trainer would say my attitude’s in the right spot,” Watson said. “This week, I won [by] not getting down on bad shots, just staying focused on what I’m supposed to be doing.”

He also had a little luck.

It came in the form of a bad break for Simpson, who remained winless on the PGA Tour and was left to wonder what might have been if not for an unusual one-stroke penalty on 15 when his ball moved as he was addressing it on the green, less than a foot from the hole.

“I better limit my comments on that rule, because I think it’s such a bad rule,” said Simpson, who seemed to think windy conditions, combined with relatively dry, hard greens, caused the ball to move. “When the wind or other natural things affect the golf ball, the player shouldn’t be penalized. ...

“It was just unfortunate, but Bubba deserves a win, and I’m pretty happy for him.”