68th Senior PGA Championship PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2008 - 233 68th SeniorSince PGA Championship it opened its Champion: Denis Watson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 2007 gates in 1991, The Site: The Ocean Course, Ocean Course has Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort been an 18-hole gauntlet that tests a Date: May 24-27, 2007 Purse: $2,000,000 golfer’s heart and soul. Par: 36-36—72 (7,201 yards) How fitting that Denis Watson, someone who has traveled to the heart Entries: 156 Cut at 152 78 players advanced of darkness in his professional golf ca- reer, would find redemption after 23 years on this strip of land and sand along the Atlantic. Romero, the leader for 67 holes, The 51-year-old native of Zim- closed with a 72 and 281. Price, making babwe stood tall and delivered when his first appearance, was third after a 71 front-runner Eduardo Romero made and Japan’s Naomichi “Joe” Ozaki fin- ished with a 72 to garner fourth. late mistakes, and went on to capture Senior PGA Championship the 68th Senior PGA Championship for The top four were part of 36 inter- his first victory since 1984. national players representing 14 “This validates my golfing career,” countries. American Tim Simpson fin- Watson tied for second at the Turtle said Watson. “It’s gratifying to know ished fifth at 286 after a 70, and Brad Bay Championship, then added three that I’ve still got it after all these years.” Bryant, last year’s runner-up, was sixth more top 10s heading into The Ocean Making his first appearance in the at 287 to round out only six players fin- Course, where he had to face Romero. oldest and most prestigious event in ishing under-par on Pete Dye’s Romero, nicknamed “El Gato,” senior golf, Watson posted a final- challenging seaside course, built for the (“The Cat”) had handled The Ocean round 4-under-par 68 to finish at 1991 Ryder Cup and hosting its first Course’s renowned sand dunes and At- 9-under 279. major championship. The Ocean lantic gusts the best of anyone the first Course next hosts the 2012 PGA three rounds. Despite a few stumbles, Championship. Romero held a two-stroke after birdies “It’s been a long “My wife told me, ‘You’re going to on the 11th and 12th holes pushed him win this week; it’s your destiny,’ ” said to 10 under. struggle,” Watson Watson, as he being toasted by The But, The Ocean Course’s back nine said as he fought PGA of America in the clubhouse. “I - where golfers are more exposed to the said, ‘God, I’d like to have this. You wind coming home from the 14th hole - back tears in just his know, I think he’s taken good care of began to grab back. 30th tournament in me today.” Romero bogeyed the 13th hole, and Watson was a rising star in the saw his round fall apart with a double 14 years. “It’s nothing 1980s when he won three events in bogey on the par-3 14th, where his tee like winning. It’s so 1984, the Buick Open, the NEC World shot buried in the side of a left bunker. good to have this Series of Golf and the Las Vegas Invi- “I knew from the tee that it would tational. The next year, he tied for (be plugged),” Romero said. “I thought happen.” second at the U.S. Open. Later in 1985, 4 would be good. But I make double.” though, Watson’s star crashed to Earth Watson, meanwhile, knocked his when he struck a hidden stump during a tee shot to within 12 feet, making the tournament in South Africa. birdie putt to move to 9-under-par and “It’s been a long struggle,” Watson He continued playing, but would take a two-shot lead. eventually discover he had damaged his said as he fought back tears in just his Watson gave back a stroke with a neck, wrist, back and shoulders and in- 30th tournament in 14 years. “It’s noth- bogey on the 15th, but responded with curred nerve damage. ing like winning. It’s so good to have a birdie on the 16th after a memorable this happen.” “I never played a decent round of 20-yard putt from off the green, up a Watson, who pocketed $360,000, golf (after that),” he said. ridge and coming to rest within three defeated Argentina’s Romero by two Watson’s had eight or nine surger- feet of the hole. strokes while his childhood friend Nick ies, he said, been in a back brace for Watson parred the devilish par-3 Price of South Africa finished three weeks and spent years in rehab. 17th, which was the No. 1 most diffi- strokes back. Watson became the first No less an expert than teacher cult hole of the Championship, and international-born Senior PGA cham- David Leadbetter told Watson his then stepped to the 18th tee. His drive pion since 1990, when South Africa’s swing was dead. drifted right, just clearing a steep bun- Gary Player won the last of his three ti- “Someone told me that I’d played ker and coming to rest softly in a patch tles. 30 times in 14 years,” Watson said. of grass. He hit his approach over the Watson’s triumph led a global pa- “That’s not a lot of golf.” green, got a free drop from the bleach- rade on the leader board, with Things began to turn this season, ers, chipped and chased his six-foot par international-born players grabbing the his first full year on the Champions putt into the hole with a pump fist. top four spots. Tour. In front of millions watching on 234 - PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2008 68th Senior PGA Championship television, Watson found his opening to compose himself. As they were riding, “Whatever happens is in your con- overtake Romero on Sunday. But, it was Watson looked over and saw a vision- trol, you just do it,” he said. “And have his personal mental recovery after the impaired spectator. a pretty good attitude, because you’re second round that most likely propelled “I don’t know what the heck he was pretty lucky. And I feel lucky. I’ve had him to challenge for a Championship. doing at the golf course,” Watson said. a lot of great things happen to me. He began the second round on the “But that got to me. I thought to myself, “Of all those adverse things, you just back nine and double bogeyed both the ‘You have no right to be unhappy with have to say, ‘Well, that’s supposed to 17th and 18th holes. As he was being yourself. You get to play golf and that happen to get me to where I am. shuttled to the front nine, his wife, guy will never play golf.’ ” “And I’m here today. I’m the (Senior) Susan, was attempting to cheer him up. Watson said he took it as a sign from PGA Champion. I can barely believe it.” He told her he needed to be quiet and God. Course Avg. Under Par At Par Over Par Round Leader Low Round Denis Watson Round 1: 77.24 7 13 133 68 - Eduardo Romero 68 - Eduardo Romero 71 - T4th Round 2: 75.50 21 12 118 138 - Eduardo Romero 69 - Mike San Filippo 142 - 4th Round 3: 73.64 19 7 52 209 - Eduardo Romero 69 - Denis Watson 211 - T2nd Round 4: 73.91 19 8 51 279 - Denis Watson 68 - Denis Watson 279 - 1st Totals: 75.494 66 40 354 ¢ How Denis Watson Played During the 2007 Senior PGA Championship Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Par 454434534454434534 Yards 395 535 390 458 185 450 537 170 425 439 562 428 445 194 421 540 197 430 Round 1 454433443554423635 Round 2 454533334344424556 Round 3 354434434443434544 Round 4 454433434444425434 Driving Distance: 281 yards - Rank 9th Fairways Hit: 27 of 56 - Rank T27th Greens Hit: 52 of 72 - Rank 3rd Putts: 111- Rank T7th ¢ How Kiawah Island Golf Resort Played During the 2007 Senior PGA Championship Hole 123456789101112131415161718 Par 454434534454434534 Yards 395 535 390 458 185 450 537 170 425 439 562 428 445 194 421 540 197 430 Eagles 000000900061010100 Birdies 58 67 56 28 39 50 197 47 48 47 180 60 41 36 34 75 27 31 Pars 276 251 252 247 310 307 206 296 336 277 228 311 277 249 254 291 231 270 Bogeys 120 112 123 157 107 87 43 111 70 118 41 84 110 133 142 74 136 138 Db. Bogeys 15 23 23 25 4 15 4 5 5 16 4 4 29 32 26 10 46 19 Others 1762011112103949202 ’07 Avg. 4.228 5.246 4.289 4.409 3.165 4.152 4.650 3.170 4.078 4.237 4.696 4.065 4.298 3.407 4.380 5.100 3.596 4.328 Rank 10 8 7 2 12 13 18 11 15 9 17 16 6 3 4 14 1 5 Front 9 Average: 37.387 Back 9 Average: 38.107 Course Average: 75.494 67th Senior PGA Championship Scores PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2008 - 235 After Round Fairways Driving 67th Senior PGA Championship Scores 1 2 3 4 Player Score Money Hit Rank Distance Rank Gir Rank Putts Rank Par 3 Par 4 Par 5 Birdies Pars Bogey 4 4 2 1 Denis Watson 71-71-69-68—279 $360,000 38 T27 281.9 9 52 3 111 T7 1 -2 -8 18 44 7 1 1 1 2 Eduardo Romero 68-70-71-72—281 $216,000 33 T58 291.6 3 47 T11 114 T15 5 -1 -11 16 48 7 4 3 2 3 Nick Price 71-70-70-71—282 $136,000 36 T36 266.8 40 45 T20 112 T9 1 -1 -6 16 46 10 2 2 4 4 Joe Ozaki 69-71-72-72—284 $96,000 36 T36 274.9 21 43 T32 109 T2 3 -1 -6 16 45 10 56 24 5 5 Tim Simpson 76-71-69-70—286 $76,000 43 T4 264.4 47 50 T5 117 T36 0 5 -7 15 47 7 4 5 5 6 Brad Bryant 71-72-73-71—287 $66,000 40 T17 280.3 13 54 2 125 T72 1 0 -2 11 50 8 38 56 10 T7 Tom Kite 75-76-67-70—288 $60,000 35 T44 269.0 35 56 1 126 T74 5 1 -6 15 41 13 8 24 8 T7 Craig Stadler 72-75-70-71—288 $60,000 38 T27 281.4 T10 48 T8 116 T30 -1 7 -6 15 42 11 8 5 10 T9 Jay Haas 72-71-75-71—289 $52,000 35 T44 265.4 46 43 T32 115 T22 2 4 -5 12 47 13 56 14 10 T9 Hajime Meshiai 76-70-72-71—289 $52,000 28 T73 292.4 2 47 T11 116 T30 5 1 -5 10 52 9 80 45 25 11 Curtis Strange 78-72-70-70—290 $46,000 40 T17 268.1 37 47 T11 119 T45 6 5 -9 13 43 13 21 7 10 T12 Ben Crenshaw 73-71-74-73—291 $33,429 33 T58 247.3 T76 41 T42 111 T7 5 3 -5 14 44 12 4 24 30 T12 Massy Kuramoto 71-76-74-70—291 $33,429 25 77 276.9 19 33 T74 106 1 1 4 -2 13 44 14 8 9 5 T12 Mark O’Meara 72-73-71-75—291 $33,429 34 T51 267.6 39 45 T20 113 T12 6 3 -6 15 42 12 8 14 18 T12 Loren Roberts 72-74-73-72—291 $33,429 38 T27 255.5 68 41 T42 110 T4 2 6 -5 13 45 12 108 45 10 T12 D.A.