Golf: Bubba Watson wins Hero World Challenge by three strokes

Bubba Watson of the United States poses with the trophy after his three-stroke victory at the Hero World Challenge. PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

BAHAMAS (AFP) - Two-time US Masters champion Bubba Watson fired a six-under-par 66 on Sunday to win the Hero World Challenge invitational event in the Bahamas by three strokes.

The 37-year-old American, who won at Augusta in 2012 and 2014, captured the 18-man event hosted by Tiger Woods with a 72-hole total of 25-under 263 at the Albany resort.

Fellow American Patrick Reed was second on 266 after a 66 of his own with countryman Rickie Fowler shooting at 64 to stand fourth on 267, one stroke better than 2014 winner Jordan Spieth, the reigning Masters and US Open champion.

England's Paul Casey, who played in the final pairing alongside Watson, fired 70 to share fifth with American Bill Haas.

Watson had back-to-back birdies three different times Sunday, at the par-three second and par-five third, the par-five sixth and par-four seventh and on the first two holes of the back nine. He birdied the par-four 14th and a bogey at the last only shrank the final victory margin.

England's Justin Rose fired a course-record 10-under 62 on Sunday, breaking the day-old mark shared by Casey and Watson.

Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, birdied the third and fourth holes, fired three in a row starting at the par-5 sixth, began the back nine with his sixth birdie and then fired four more in a row capped by a 2 at the par-3 17th. He finished on 275 overall.

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