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Posted at 3:02 p.m., Sunday, February 18, 2007

Watson wins Champions Tour event in chilly Florida

Associated Press

LUTZ, Fla. — Tom Watson won the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am for his first professional victory in Florida, closing with a 1-under 70 in cold and windy conditions today for a one-stroke margin over Jay Haas and Andy Bean.

The round was played in temperatures reaching the low 40s, with 30 mph gusts. Six players, including Watson, started play at 7:30 a.m. to complete their second rounds after darkness suspended play with six players remaining on the course Saturday.

Watson, the five-time British Open champion who entered the week 0-for-93 as a pro in Florida, birdied the final hole in the second round shortly after frost cleared on the TPC Tampa Bay course to pull within a stroke of the lead.

''I guess after all I've played in Florida it has just never been cold enough,'' Watson said. ''It took Kansas City weather to make it happen.''

Watson had to wait around after playing the 18th early in the morning and said he was feeling the effects of the cold.

''I was so tired, but it was so cold that I woke up really quickly,'' Watson said. ''I've never been this cold, even at the British Open.''

Watson finished at 4-under 209 and earned $240,000 for his ninth career Champions Tour title.

Haas shot a 69, and Bean closed with a 72.

Haas started the round three shots off the lead and played the back nine at even par before making his move with birdies on the 12th and 18th to close within one.

''Today was more about survival than trying to make a run at the scoreboard,'' Haas said. ''You just have to survive on days like this and not try to attack. I needed more putts to drop.''

Bean was tied for the lead before a double-bogey on the 14th hole when he shanked a short chip shot sideways. His par chip from the rough came up 10 feet short and he missed the comebacker and Watson had his first lead of the day.

Bean had been playing steady golf all day and was even for the round when he came to the 14th.

''I was in perfect position and that's what cost me,'' Bean said. ''I was right where I needed to be. I was pleased with every shot I hit all day except for the ones at 14.''

Loren Roberts (71) and R.W. Eaks (70) tied for fourth at 1 under.

Watson parred the first seven holes, but bogeyed the eighth and ninth holes to fall three shots behind Bean. Watson birdied the 10th, 12th and 13th to pull even with Bean at 4 under until Bean made his first big mistake of the day on the 14th.

Defending champion Jerry Pate fell out of contention Thursday and finished with a 75, 14 strokes off the pace. Mark O'Meara, making his Champions Tour debut, closed with an 82 to tie for 38th at 9 over.

Former U.S. Open winner Scott Simpson and actor Bill Murray won the pro-am competition, beating Hale Irwin and amateur Hugh Connerty by a stroke.