American Bubba Watson cruised to a three-shot victory at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas Sunday and wasted little time paying tribute to tournament host Tiger Woods. Dual Masters champion Watson was in control throughout the final round, shooting 66 to finish at 25-under-par 263, three clear of fellow American Patrick Reed (66). Starting with a two-shot buffer, Watson claimed control with four birdies in his opening seven holes at Albany Golf Club in New Providence before adding three more early on the back nine. A final hole bogey was his only blemish as he claimed the $3.5 million event, which comprised an exclusive 18-man field, and offered world ranking points, though it is not an official PGA Tour event. Rickie Fowler (64) finished third at 21-under, with world No. 1 and defending champion Jordan Spieth (67) left to settle for fourth place, five shots back. Woods was unable to play due to recent back surgery, but he was on site to watch the action. "It means a lot," Watson told reporters as he spoke glowingly of 14-time major champion Woods. "He's the guy I looked up to, he's the guy I wanted to be like. How do you not want to be a champion like him when it comes to golf?" In the field as a late addition after Australian Jason Day withdrew, Watson made the most of relatively benign conditions throughout the tournament, overpowering a course usually protected by brisk winds. While his length was an obvious boon, the 37-year-old claimed it was his work on the greens he had to thank. pieth, meanwhile, could not successfully defend his title, and was left to settle for fourth place, five shots back, ending his stellar calendar year during which he claimed five wins including the Masters, US Open, Tour Championship and the season-long FedEx Cup. A course record 10-under-62 by Englishman Justin Rose was only good enough to lift the former US Open champion to 13th. Feng wire-to-wire victory China's Simin Feng completed a wire-to-wire victory in the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament Sunday to regain a full exemption. The 20-year-old Feng closed with a 3-under 69 at LPGA International for an 18-under 342 total and a seven-stroke victory. The top 20 earned full cards, and Nos. 21-45 and ties received conditional status. Grace Na and Thailand's Budsabakorn Sukapan tied for second. Na shot 69, and Sukapan 70. Canada's Maude-Aimee LeBlanc and the Philippines' Cyna Rodriguez shot 71 to tie for fourth at 10 under. Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods' niece, had a 69 to jump for a tie for 24th to a tie for 13th at 3 under. Megan Khang also earned a full exemption along with Cydney Clanton, Ashlan Ramsey, Laetitia Beck, Nontaya Srisawang, Gaby Lopez, Julie Yang, Sandra Changkija, Holly Clyburn, Bertine Strauss, Lindy Duncan, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, Benyapa Niphatsophon and Jing Yan. Niphatsophon and Yan earned spots in a playoff with Christine Song. — Agencies
