Watson’s birdie blitz fires him to US victory

TOM WATSON overcame a six-shot deficit to record a one-stroke victory at the Charles Schwab Championship in California.

Jay Haas, a rookie on the Champions Tour in search of his third title this month, entered the final round with a six-stroke lead over Watson and four others after a nine-under 63 on Saturday.

But Watson proved why he is one of the top golfers of his era, bogeying just twice while sinking 10 birdies, including the clincher on the final hole at the Sonoma Golf Club.

The 56-year-old finished at 16-under on 272.

Haas had four birdies and three bogeys in a one-under 71 to finish at 15 under, while Tom Kite shot a bogey-free five-under 67 to finish in third place three strokes off the pace.

Mark McNulty, last year's winner here, was fourth at 11 under while Dana Quigley and Loren Roberts were six shots back.

Meanwhile, Carl Pettersson calmly sank a short par putt on the final hole to win the Chrysler Championship in Florida.

The Swede shot a final round of level-par 71 to finish at nine under on 275 and post a one-shot victory over Chad Campbell.

Pettersson, who entered the final 18 holes tied with Steve Lowery, made only one birdie but became only the third Swede and first since Jesper Parnevik in 1998 to win a PGA Tour event.

Campbell, who began the day five shots off the pace, sank a long birdie putt on the last to finish his final round at four under and put pressure on Pettersson to par his final two holes.

Displaying the form that made him a winner on the European Tour in 2003, the 28-year-old Pettersson proved up to the task and became the 11th different winner in the last 11 Tour events.

While Pettersson avoided trouble for the most part on the Westin Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course on Sunday, the same could not be said for Lowery.

Playing in the same group as the Swede, Lowery had a triple-bogey on the par-three eighth hole and finished among a group of seven tied for third, four shots off the pace.