Justin Rose falters as Bubba Watson wins Travelers

Final round leaderboard:
-14 B Watson (US), S Verplank (US), C Pavin -13 C Riley (US) -12 P Harrington (Ire), C Campbell (US), R Goosen (SA), R Barnes (US) Selected others: -11 Justin Rose (Eng) -10 K Sutherland (US), V Singh (Fij), B Curtis (US)

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Watson triumphed after Rose squandered a three-stroke lead

Justin Rose squandered a three-stroke overnight lead as Bubba Watson won his maiden US Tour title in a play-off at the Travelers Championship.

Englishman Rose shot a 75 to finish three shots off the 14-under totals of play-off contenders Watson (66), Corey Pavin (66) and Scott Verplank (64).

US Ryder Cup skipper Pavin dropped out after the first sudden death hole.

And Watson emerged victorious on the next when he held his nerve after Verplank had missed his par putt.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington matched his opening round 64, which included seven birdies and an eagle on the par-four 16th, to finish just two shots off the leaders in a tie for fifth place with Retief Goosen (67), Ricky Barnes (68) and Chad Campbell (66).

American Chris Riley fired a final-round 65 to finish one shot ahead of that bunch alone in fourth.

Rose had been hoping to win his second title on the Tour after claiming his maiden victory at the Memorial earlier this month.

606: DEBATE Not nice to watch. Great day for English sport (cricket aside)! SmithersJones (U2143095)

Rounds of 64, 62 and 68 indicated that he had every chance of achieving this feat, however he dropped back a shot on his outward nine after a bogey on the third.

Bogeys at 10 and 12 followed, and he found water at the par-four 15th to eventually double-bogey.

Watson had temporarily lost his share of the lead with a double bogey at 17 but birdied the last to make it a three-way tie.

Rose needed two birdies from his final three holes to make it a four-way play-off but the 29-year-old missed a two-foot par putt on the par-three 16th for a bogey to move back to 11-under.

He parred his final two holes as he was left to peruse what might have been.

"It's hard to play golf when you feel like you're going to miss every putt from two feet," Rose said.

"I was just that uncomfortable on the greens all day. My golf game felt fair or thereabouts, but just felt really uncomfortable on the greens.

"Getting in the hole seemed impossible and that's just what I need to work on. My putting is hot and cold.

"It was obviously my tournament to lose. I could have shot one-over par and won. It's disappointing. It wasn't overly difficult."