Intro:

Bubba Watson forced a playoff against Tim Clark with a spectacular bunker shot for eagle on the 18th before a long birdie putt on the first extra hole claimed him his first World Golf Championship title at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai on Sunday (9 November).

Script:

Bubba Watson defeated Tim Clark on the first play-off hole to win the WGC-HSBC Champions on Sunday after an extraordinary finish to the event in Shanghai.

Watson was two shots clear with three holes to play at Sheshan International only to bogey the 16th and run up a double bogey on the 17th after failing to escape a greenside bunker at the first attempt.

That dropped the Masters champion one shot behind playing partners Clark and Rickie Fowler, as well as the final group of Graeme McDowell, Hiroshi Iwata and Martin Kaymer.

Clark looked in pole position when he hit his third shot to the par-five 18th to four feet and saw Fowler find the water and Watson a bunker.

However, Watson produced the shot of the day as he holed his bunker shot for an eagle and Clark's birdie was only good enough to leave the pair tied on 11 under, with the final group needing to birdie the last to join the play-off.

Kaymer's chances disappeared when his approach flew over the green into the water, while McDowell and Iwata missed from 18 and 12 feet respectively.

Clark and Watson returned to the 18th for the play-off only for Watson to find the same bunker with his second shot.

In the meantime, Clark hit his third shot 20 feet from the hole.

Watson was unable to repeat his heroics from the sand, but after Clark left his birdie attempt short, the left-hander holed his birdie putt to seal victory.