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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 25, 2010

Watson, Prugh tied at Hope


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Bubba Watson, above, and Alex Prugh share the lead at 23-under 265 in the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, Calif.

CHRIS CARLSON | Associated Press

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LA QUINTA, Calif. — Bubba Watson, Alex Prugh and Joe Ogilvie all had late chances to create a little separation atop the Bob Hope Classic field yesterday. All three made mistakes better suited to their amateur playing partners.

And that left a leaderboard crowded with low-profile pros seeking their first career victories in today's finale.

Watson double-bogeyed the final hole in the fourth round, dropping him back into a tie with PGA Tour rookie Prugh at 23-under 265. Prugh missed a 3-foot putt to bogey his own final hole, while Ogilvie sat two strokes back after a double bogey on his 17th.

"You can't have double bogeys and win the Hope," Ogilvie said.

Actually, you probably can this year. The famed tournament features none of the PGA Tour's top 35 players, creating golden opportunities for the top four players heading into the final round at the Arnold Palmer Private course at PGA West. The four-course event was pushed back a day after rain washed out play Thursday.

After knocking his second shot into the water and then missing a 6-foot putt on the par-4 18th, Watson finished at 3-under 69 to match Prugh (70) at 23-under 265. Bill Haas and Tim Clark were a stroke back after 66s, Ogilvie (68) followed at 21 under, and Mike Weir was in a group another stroke behind after his fourth straight 67.

Watson, Prugh, Haas and South Africa's Clark have never won on the PGA Tour, while Ogilvie has just one win.

"The emotions, they're flowing, they're going up and down out there," said Haas, whose father, Jay, won the Hope Classic in 1988. "If there's good weather, it's going to take a 66 to have a chance. I don't even know if that will win tomorrow."

GERMANY'S KAYMER EARNS ONE-STROKE WIN AT ABU DHABI

Germany's Martin Kaymer won the Abu Dhabi Championship for the second time in three years, making a 2-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory over England's Ian Poulter yesterday at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Kaymer closed with a 6-under 66 to finish at 21-under 267 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and earn his fifth PGA European Tour title. Poulter also finished with a 66.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy (67) was third at 19 under.