Watson, Prugh, Headline Monday Finish at Bob Hope Classic

Sports News - January 25th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

For only the third time in the history of the tournament, the Bob Hope Classic has to resort to a Monday finish. Rain-soaked greens and fairways caused play to be canceled on Thursday, delaying the conclusion of the tournament. At the close of Sunday, PGA tour rookie Alex Prugh, and Bubba Watson are tied atop the leader board, with several players in the review mirror. Each had their chance to create some space between themselves and the rest of the field, but were unable to capitalize on chances.

Watson came to the 18th hole two shots clear of the field, but a double-bogey on the final hole, dropped the left-hander back into a tie with Prugh. Prugh had difficulty of his own on the last hole, missing a three-foot par putt that burnt the edge of the cup.

Historically, The Bob Hope Classic has produced some of the lowest scoring of all the PGA Tour events each season, but bogeys and double-bogeys took the story-lines over the last few holes on Sunday.

"You can't have double bogeys and win the Hope," said Joe Ogilvie, who currently sits two-shots behind the leaders, at 21-under par.

Perhaps this year, bogeys are not as costly as in years prior. No player entered in the tournament is ranked higher thank 35th in the official world golf rankings. This translates to a lot of inexperience in winning. The door is open for many players who are able to take advantage. Currently, there are 16 players within five shots of the lead.

"Tomorrow is going to be a tough day no matter if I had the lead, was tied for the lead, or one back, or five back," Watson said to the AP in his post-round interview. "Tomorrow is going to be a fun day. This is what we live for. The more chances I get to win, maybe I'll get one to luckily fall in and win one."

PGA Tour rookie, Prugh, is making just his third career start. Despite the bogey on the 18th hole, the former Washington Huskie draws similar comparisons to this event, and the Nationwide Tour he competed on last season. This has allowed him to stay within himself, despite the pressure of trying to win his first PGA event.

"The way things were going the first three days, where the scores were going, I definitely didn't think 2 under would keep me in it," Prugh said after the round on Sunday. "It's definitely what I expected to feel. I feel like I've been in this situation before."

Oddsmakers have installed Watson and South African Tim Clark, who sits one-shot back, as the favorites to win the Bob Hope Classic, according to the PGA Betting Lines at Bodog. Both players have been set as 11/4 odds to claim the tour title. Prugh is a 7/1 favorite to win his first event on the PGA Tour.

Coverage of the final round at the Bob Hope Classic can bee seen Live on the Golf Channel beginning at 3pm EST.

FULL REVISED ODDS TO WIN BOB HOPE CLASSIC-

Bubba Watson 11/4
Tim Clark 11/4
Alex Prugh 7/1
Bill Haas 6/1
Mike Weir 11/1
Joe Ogilvie 14/1
Matt Kuchar 14/1
Kevin Streelman 22/1
Ryan Moore 28/1
Martin Flores 40/1
D.J. Trahan 80/1
Jeff Klauk 80/1
John Merrick 66/1
Brandt Snedeker 66/1
The Field ( Any Other Golfer) 10/1