• Travelers Championship, Round Four

Watson profits as Rose collapses

Bubba Watson came out on top in a three-way play-off to win the Travelers Championship © Getty Images

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Bubba Watson took full advantage of a final-round collapse by long-term leader Justin Rose to claim the first professional title of his career at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

The American left-hander had to come through a three-man play-off with US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank to seal his success after firing a fourth-round 66 to finish the tournament on 14-under-par.

Pavin, who also shot 66 to reach the sudden-death shoot-out, failed to match birdies by Watson and Verplank at the first play-off hole after a poor tee shot and watched as Watson took advantage of a missed putt by the latter to grab the title with a regulation par at the second extra hole.

By winning, Watson completed the biggest comeback in an event since Padraig Harrington also came from six shots back to win the 2007 Open at Carnoustie and the magnitude of his achievements were clearly not lost on the emotional American.

"I'm so happy to have finally won," Watson said. "I've got my mum and dad to thank for this because they stuck by me all the way. My dad is fighting cancer right now and I'm so proud to have won it for him."

World No. 33 Rose, who won his first tournament on the PGA Tour at the Memorial Tournament earlier in the month, carried a three-shot lead over the field heading into the final round at TPC River Highlands but suffered the cruellest of collapses. The Englishman carded four bogeys, one double bogey and a solitary birdie as he signed for a five-over-par final-round 75 to finish in a tie for ninth on 11-under.

""It was obviously my tournament to lose," Rose said. "I could have shot one-over par today and won the golf tournament. It's disappointing. It wasn't overly difficult today.

"Regardless of whether you're comfortable, three shots is a good lead to have. Rickie Fowler was three or four ahead of me going into Sunday at Memorial, so it is clearly not a comfortable lead."

Rose's playing partner, 2003 Open champion Ben Curtis, also endured a day to forget as he slipped to a three-over final-round 73 and a tie for 13th. Harrington, who held a share of the lead with Rose at the end of the first round, enjoyed a fine final day as he fired seven birdies in a round of 64. The Irishman's efforts moved him into a tie for fifth on 12-under but it was a case of what could have been for the world No. 15, as a bogey at 16 checked his momentum and left him two shots shy of forcing his way into the play-off.

Double US Open champion Retief Goosen finished alongside Harrington in fifth as he finished with a 67, while Vijay Singh took a big step towards getting his season back on track as he recovered from a third-round 73 by shooting a four-under 66 to finish tied for 13th on 10-under.

Defending champion Kenny Perry closed with a second consecutive 73 to finish the tournament at three-over-par.

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