Watson Finally Gets Senior Title

Tom Watson won the season-ending Senior Tour Championship, closing with a six-under 66 Sunday for a one-stroke victory over John Jacobs at Murrells Inlet, S.C.

Watson, who earned $365,000 for his first victory since his senior debut in September 1999, had an 18-under 270 total. The five-time British Open champion had four front-nine birdies and a clinching eagle on the 14th hole.

“It’s like I was going to have dinner without dessert this year,” said Watson, the first to add a Senior Tour Championship to his PGA Tour Championship title. “Now, I get to finish with a good dessert.”

Jacobs shot a 68. Mike McCullough (70), Jose Maria Canizares (72) and Leonard Thompson (76) tied for third at 278. Larry Nelson, who won a season-high six tournaments this year, shot his third 69 to finish at seven-under and lock up the earnings title at more than $2.7 million.

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Steve Lowery made a 40-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the first hole of a playoff with Skip Kendall to win the Southern Farm Bureau Classic at Madison, Miss. Lowery forced the playoff by birdieing No. 18 after Kendall parred the par-five hole to finish at 22-under 266. Lowery shot 70. Kendall, who missed a 12-foot birdie putt in the playoff, had a 66. Lowery earned $396,000.

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Lorie Kane of Canada birdied the first playoff hole to beat Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson at the Mizuno Open for her third title of the LPGA season.

Kane started the final round three shots behind co-leader Gustafson but forced a playoff with a six-under 66 for a 12-under 204 at Otsu, Japan.

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Sweden’s Pierre Fulke eagled the 16th hole en route to a five-under 67 and a one-stroke victory over Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke in the Volvo Masters at Jerez, Spain. Fulke had a 16-under 272 total, and earned $484,000. Clarke, who had a 68 made $322,500 to move ahead of England’s Lee Westwood for the top spot on the PGA European Tour money list.