OWINGS MILLS, Md., June 30 (UPI) -- Don Pooley, competing in his first full year on the Senior PGA Tour, birdied the final two holes of what turned out to be a five-hole playoff Sunday to defeat golf legend Tom Watson at the U.S. Senior Open.
Pooley thus made his first title on the elder circuit a major one.
"Don Pooley did an awful lot for senior golf today," Watson said.
After Watson rallied on the back nine at Caves Valley Golf Club, Pooley matched him shot for shot in a three-hole playoff.
With the players still tied, the playoff moved into sudden death. Both birdied the par-4 18th and then, playing the 18th again, Pooley rolled in a 10-foot birdie to capture the tour's third major of the season.
"Was that exciting?" asked the 50-year-old Pooley, who earned $450,000. "I thought I was having a heart attack out there."
The win was the fourth of Pooley's professional career and first since the 1987 Memorial on the PGA Tour. He had finished no better than fourth in his first 21 Senior starts but won the biggest event on tour.
"To win the best tournament on the tour is huge," said Pooley, who was ninth and 18th in the first two majors of the year. "It's amazing."
Seeking his second major victory in three years on the Senior Tour and his 38th title between the circuits, Watson just ran out of incredible shots, missing the fairway and green on the final hole of sudden death.
"He was a little more steady than me in the playoff," said the 52-year-old Watson, an eight-time major winner on the PGA Tour who was five shots back with 10 holes to play. "He put it to me."
Pooley began the day with a three-shot lead over Watson, his playing partner who carded a 4-under-par 67. They finished regulation at 10-under 274.
Tom Kite placed third at 277, a stroke better than Ed Dougherty and two better than Morris Hatalsky and Fred Gibson.
Pooley could have run away with the tournament if not for a surge by Watson, who cut into a five-shot deficit with birdies on the ninth and 10th holes.
After consecutive pars, Watson began his final push at the par-5 13th, where he made a 12-foot birdie putt. He added a three-footer at No. 14 to get within a stroke.
"I don't like to tell people how I played," Watson said. "But I came from behind and almost did it."
Watson extended his birdie run to three consecutive holes with another three-footer at the par-3 15th. But Pooley got up-and-down from off the green to keep a share of the lead.
Pooley grabbed sole possession of the top spot at the 16th, where Watson missed the green with his approach and failed to scramble for par. But Watson made a slick 12-foot birdie putt at No. 17 to tie for the lead again.
Both players parred the final hole of regulation and went to the 16th tee for a three-hole playoff -- the first at the event since the USGA switched from 18 extra holes.
Pooley and Watson went par for par in the first playoff stage, beginning with saves of five and six feet, respectively, at the par-4 16th.
After both players drove into a bunker at the par-4 17th, Watson appeared to have the advantage, but he missed a 15-footer for birdie and Pooley scrambled for par.
"That pin position, he made a great up-and-down," Watson said. "He's got great touch, that man."
The two moved to the par-4 18th for the first of three consecutive playoff holes. After Watson missed the fairway and green, Pooley pulled a seven-foot birdie putt and looked around in disbelief.
Golf carts took the two back to the 18th tee. This time, both birdied, with Watson answering Pooley's 12-foot putt and fist pump with a cool 10-footer.
"Yeah, on the 18th hole, I thought I had Tom twice, and he made two good putts there on 18," Pooley said. "I was expecting him to make it but kind of hoping that maybe he wouldn't."
Pooley won it on the second hole of sudden death. Watson again drove into the rough, then missed the green badly before chipping eight feet past the hole.
Pooley had nailed the fairway with his drive and put his approach within 10 feet of the pin. Feeling butterflies, he backed off the putt and exchanged smiles with Watson before ending one of the most thrilling events in Senior Tour history.
"To birdie that last hole, that's pretty special," Pooley said. "Especially against Tom Watson. Tom's a great guy, obviously one of the best players ever. It was just fun. We battled hard against each other and I hope it was a good show."
