Golf Roundup : Watson Misses 30-Inch Putt, Loses World Series Playoff to Mike Reid

Tom Watson missed a 30-inch par putt and let Mike Reid escape with a playoff victory Sunday in the World Series of Golf at Akron, Ohio.

Watson, seeking his first win of the season and second in four years, three-putted the first playoff hole and Reid became the winner with a routine par.

The lapse by Watson, who has been troubled by inconsistent short putting during his slump, cost him a chance to go past Jack Nicklaus and take the all-time money-winning lead on the PGA Tour.

Watson and Reid each finished regulation play at 275, 5-under-par on rain-sodden Firestone Country Club course. Watson shot a final-round 68 while Reid had a 69.

On the first playoff hole, both players reached the green in regulation. Reid’s first putt, a 30-footer, slid about 30 inches past the hole and Watson, some 18-20 feet away, also missed.

Watson missed the comeback putt to the right. Reid sank his putt for the win and the $162,000 first prize.

Watson won $97,200. It pushed his career earnings to $4,971,113. Nicklaus is the leader with $5,002,825.

Ian Baker-Finch of Australia and Larry Nelson finished tied for third at 271. Each shot 71. Sandy Lyle of Scotland was fifth at 278, while Steve Pate, who shot a 6-under-par 64, matching the best round of the tournament, was tied with Chip Beck at 279.

Rosie Jones blew a five-shot lead on the front nine, then recovered to break out of a five-way tie with a birdie on the 16th hole to win the $265,000 LPGA World Championship at Buford, Ga.

Jones struggled to a 2-over-par 74 in the final round and finished with a 9-under 279.

The victory was worth $81,500 to Jones.

Lisolette Neumann of Sweden was second at 280 with a 6-under-par 66.

Nancy Lopez shot 71 and finished in a three-way tie at 281 with Patty Sheehan and Sherri Turner.

Defending champion Ayako Okamoto of Japan was sixth at 284.

Phil Blackmar rolled in a 40-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation play and then sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the first extra playoff hole to win the $450,000 Provident tournament at Chattanooga, Tenn.

Blackmar’s putt on the first hole of sudden death beat Payne Stewart. Both players had gone into the final round tied with Bill Britton and Jim Dent at 11-under par.

Blackmar and Stewart each shot 5-under-par 65s to finish 16-under at 264. Blackmar earned $81,000 for first while Stewart collected $48,600.

Billy Ray Brown shot a 66 to finish 5 shots back at 269. He was tied with Mark Hayes (67) and Dent (70).

Britton finished at 270 with a 1-over-par 71.

Bob Charles of New Zealand shot a 1-over-par 71 to win a $250,000 senior tournament at Lexington, Ky. It was his fourth win on the PGA Seniors Tour this year.

Charles, who finished 10-under-par with a three-day total of 200, earned $37,500 to increase his 1988 earnings to $395,258, tops on the tour.

Dick Hendrickson, who started the round tied with Charles, finished second at 201 with a 2-over-par 72. He earned $21,500.

A five-way tie for third at 203 included Miller Barber (70), Dale Douglass (67), Walt Zembriski (65), Bob Erickson (71) and Gary Player (70).

Patty Jordan recorded her first win on the LPGA Tour when she shot a steady 2-under-par 70 in the $150,000 Ocean State Open at Cranston, R.I.

Jordan, who had never finished higher than 10th, finished 5-under-par at 211.

Six players--Mitzi Edge, Lynn Adams, Jill Briles, Margaret Ward, Sandra Palmer and second-round leader Joan Pitcock--were tied for second at 213.