Harold Varner III holed a 90-foot putt for eagle on the final hole to go from one shot behind to a stunning victory in the Saudi International on Sunday.
Varner finished with a 1-under 69 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club for his second victory worldwide. He previously won the Australia PGA in 2016.
Varner faced a tough task to even two-putt for birdie and force a playoff with Bubba Watson. But, he did one better, a putt that went from one end of the 18th green to the other.
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The American threw his putter to the ground and pumped his arms to celebrate.
“There [has] been times where it just didn’t go my way and today it did,” Varner said.
“Worst-case scenario, we’ll go to a playoff and I’d get him there. And then it went in, and emotions came out. I love that.”
Varner finished at 13-under for the tournament. He won $1 million from the Asian Tour’s $5 million prize fund, along with whatever appearance money he received from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund that attracted 21 of the top 50 players in the world.
The victory moves the 31-year-old, who was at No.99, into the top 50 for the first time. If he can stay there for two more months, he would make his first appearance at the Masters.
Varner also birdied the 17th, just the finish he needed to deny Watson, who closed with a 64.
Watson jogged over from the clubhouse to congratulate Varner.
“I’m not mad at him for beating me. I’m happy for him. He’s a dear friend of mine, and I applaud him. I love seeing that,” Watson said.
Adri Arnaus of Spain had a 71 to finish three shots behind. Defending champion Dustin Johnson shot a 70 and tied for eighth.
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