Kevin Stadler closed with a 3-under-par 68 and claimed his first victory in 239 starts on the PGA Tour when Bubba Watson missed a five-foot par putt on the final hole in the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Stadler, who had won seven times as a pro but never on the biggest tour, holed a five-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole after Watson, trying to win for the first time since the 2012 Masters, holed a 19-foot birdie putt that kept them tied heading to the last hole.
Watson drove into the right rough, flew the green with his second shot and pushed his putt for par to make bogey and finish with a 71 to tie for second with Graham DeLaet of Canada, who posted a second consecutive 65.
Stadler, who overcame a double-bogey 6 on the 11th hole, hit a perfect drive and second shot on the 72nd hole before two-putting from 11 feet to win.
“It wasn’t pretty and I hit it all over the place, some ugly shots, but it all worked out,” said Stadler, whose father Craig has won 13 times on the PGA Tour and nine times on the Champions Tour.
“It feels fantastic. I would have liked to make that putt (on the 18th hole) to win it, but it was a long time coming, so I will take it.”
Kevin Stadler landed his first berth in the Masters, where the Stadlers will make history in April by becoming the first father and son to play at Augusta National. Craig earned the Green Jacket for winning the 1982 Masters.
Hunter Mahan posted a 68 to tie for fourth, two shots back, with Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who had a 69.
Webb Simpson recorded a 66 in the final round to finish 10th and defending champion Phil Mickelson tied for 42nd after a 72.
The total attendance of 563,008 for the four tournament days set a PGA Tour record.
