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Bubba Watson Wins At WGC Match Play

Bubba Waston won the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play 7 and 6 over Kevin Kisner for the second WGC title of his career and his second win on the PGA Tour this season. After beating up on Justin Thomas in the semifinal match and keeping him from the No. 1 ranking in the world, Watson annihilated Kisner in the afternoon for the 11th win of his career.
 
Kisner did him all the favors, too. After making birdie at the first to go 1 up, Watson also took five of the next six holes, all on Kisner bogeys. Watson was 6 up after 7 and victory was not a matter of "if" but "when." That moment eventually came on the 12th hole after Watson birdied the par 5 for just his third birdie of the afternoon. It was plenty to end the match well early and for Watson to become just the fifth player with multiple majors and WGC titles (Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are the others).
 
The semifinal showing from Watson might have been even more impressive than the final. Watson made four birdies and an eagle in 16 holes to keep Thomas from becoming the No. 1 player in the world with a victory. Thomas only needed to defeat Watson to become the 21st player to ever reach No. 1 in the world.
 
Following his thrilling victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, Rory McIlroy ran out of steam in his Friday match against Brian Harman, which McIlroy needed to win to advance,. Still, he finished first in strokes gained off the tee and second in strokes gained tee to green. 
 
Dustin Johnson got pummeled in all three matches he played -- 4 and 3, 4 and 3 and 3 and 1 -- and to exacerbate concerns, he finished last in the field in strokes gained from tee to green over the three days he played in Austin. He finished 63rd (of 64) in strokes gained off the tee. And that was with this 489-yard drive on Friday.
 
Thomas failed in his bid for No. 1, but there will be other opportunities. After coming in on Monday not sure he was going to compete at all because of a wisdom teeth surgery and strep throat issue, Thomas was lights out over the first four days. He faltered against Watson and Alex Noren on Sunday.
 
Jordan Spieth was all right over the first two days, but he sort of sneaked by Haotong Li and Charl Schwartzel without his best stuff. Then he ran into his Ryder Cup playing partner Patrick Reed on the third day and lost.

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