Bubba, Bubba all the way; Lahiri 17th in Hero World Challenge

Once Bubba Watson took the pole position on Saturday evening there really was no doubt on who was going to hoist that Hero World Challenge Trophy. And thereafter, once he had four birdies in first seven holes on Sunday, it was only a question of guessing the margin of his victory.

It was a perfect day, well almost, but for the 15-minute interruption due to heavy rain in Nassau. But that was soon after noon and 20 minutes before Bubba teed off. Then, there no more uncertainties.

Ultimately Bubba was three shots clear of Patrick Reed (66), who added to his long list of Top-10s finishes, but still stayed with just one win going back to January. Rickie Fowler (64) and the 2014 champion Jordan Spieth (67) played fine final rounds, but on this day Bubba was in a zone of his own. And when ‘lefty’ Bubba is in such a mood, no shot is impossible and no result other than a ‘Bubba win’ possible either.

It ended with Tournament host, Tiger Woods and sponsor Pawan Munjal handing over the Trophy to Bubba, with the latter’s son in attendance on the 18th green.

After his colourful first round, which had everything from an eagle to a double bogey, Bubba had just two bogeys in his last 54 holes and it was actually just one – going back to the 16th on second day – till the bogey on the 72nd. It was complete domination, not very different from the one that Jordan Spieth put on display a year ago, but this time Bubba totaled 25-under to Spieth’s 26-under last year.

Anirban Lahiri, the first Indian at Hero World Challenge, rounded off his debut week at the Hero World Challenge with a sedate even par 72 that had two birdies and back-to-back bogeys on eighth and ninth. He ended in a tie for 17th with Hideki Matsuyama (66) and both were four-under 284 for the week.