Nick Watney
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Alan Watney is an American
professional golf
er who plays on the PGA Tour
. The highlight of Watney's career to date is his victory at the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship
.
In July 2011, Watney broke into the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings
for the first time in his career, after his victory at the AT&T National
, placing him tenth in the world.
. He played his high school golf at Davis Senior High School
in Davis, California
. He played collegiate golf under his uncle Mike Watney at Fresno State University, where he was a three-time All-America
golfer. He turned professional in 2003, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Mike Watney, who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s.
, and after winning the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship, Watney earned qualification for the PGA Tour.
In 2007, after two years of slow progress, Watney won his first PGA Tour title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
. This victory took Watney into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings
for the first time. He got his second tour win at the 2009 Buick Invitational
at Torrey Pines Golf Course
in San Diego, with a one-stroke victory over John Rollins, taking him to his highest position yet in the World Golf Rankings, number 76.
In the 2010 PGA Championship
at Whistling Straits
, Watney had a three-shot lead going into the final round. However, he shot a final round of 81, which dropped him back to a tie for 18th place.
Watney won the biggest tournament of his career to date and his first World Golf Championship at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa
in March 2011. He entered the final round trailing by two strokes, but shot a final round 67, including a run of four birdies in five holes in the middle of the round, and finished with a birdie at the notoriously difficult 18th, to record a two-stroke victory over compatriot Dustin Johnson
. Watney admitted in an interview afterwards that he had dwelt on finishing 2nd at Doral, in the same tournament two years before, when his putt on the 18th finished a couple of inches short of the hole. After the victory, Watney moved up to number 15 in the World Golf Rankings.
In July, Watney won for the second time in 2011 at the AT&T National
by beating K. J. Choi by two strokes. The victory owed much to his third-round score when he set a course record 62 around Aronimink Golf Club
, beating the previous record set coincidently on the same day, which Chris Kirk
and Steve Marino
held briefly with joint 63s. Watney shot a 27 on the back nine, which tied the second lowest nine-hole score ever recorded on the PGA Tour
. The record is held by Corey Pavin
who shot 26 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
in 2006. During the final round Watney did not record a single bogey, making a number of crucial par saving putts to hold off the challenge of Choi and capture his fourth PGA Tour title. This win took Watney to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, ahead of Choi, and into the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings
for the first time in his career. He finished the 2011 season ranked third on the PGA Tour money list.
During the 2011 President's Cup, he defeated K.J. Choi on the final day to give the United States team a distinct advantage over the International Team coached by Greg Norman. The four-day match play tournament was played in Melbourne, Australia.
Watney's win over Choi was significant toward America's Team victory and personally Nick decidedly defeated (3 and 2) a golfer who had a terrific year on tour and in the 2011 major tournaments. This is an indication of how Watney's game has already improved to match the very best golfers on earth.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er who plays on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
. The highlight of Watney's career to date is his victory at the 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship
2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship
The 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship was a golf tournament that was contested from March 10–13 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Doral, Florida. It was the 12th WGC-Cadillac Championship tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events staged in 2011. Cadillac replaced CA...
.
In July 2011, Watney broke into the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
for the first time in his career, after his victory at the AT&T National
AT&T National
The AT&T National is a professional golf tournament held in the Washington D.C. area during the Fourth of July weekend. The PGA Tour event is hosted by Tiger Woods and benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. The first AT&T National was held July 5–8, 2007, at the Blue Course of the Congressional...
, placing him tenth in the world.
Early career
Watney was born in Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. He played his high school golf at Davis Senior High School
Davis Senior High School
Davis Senior High School is one of four high schools located in Davis, California, in the United States. DHS is a WASC accredited, 3-year, public comprehensive high school covering grades 10-12. The campus opened its current location in 1961. Enrollment for school year 2004-2005 was 1,831 students...
in Davis, California
Davis, California
Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He played collegiate golf under his uncle Mike Watney at Fresno State University, where he was a three-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
golfer. He turned professional in 2003, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Mike Watney, who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s.
Professional career
In 2003, Watney's first professional victory came at the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial on the Canadian Tour. The next year he played on the Nationwide TourNationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
, and after winning the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship, Watney earned qualification for the PGA Tour.
In 2007, after two years of slow progress, Watney won his first PGA Tour title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in New Orleans, Louisiana; its historic date has been in April, but was moved to March in 2008. Zurich Financial Services is the main sponsor of the tournament.From the event's inception through...
. This victory took Watney into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
for the first time. He got his second tour win at the 2009 Buick Invitational
Buick Invitational
The Farmers Insurance Open is a PGA Tour professional golf tournament played in the San Diego, California area in the early part of the Tour season, known as the "West Coast Swing." The tournament was noted for having singer-actor Andy Williams as a celebrity host from 1968 to 1988. The tournament...
at Torrey Pines Golf Course
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Torrey Pines Golf Course is a municipal public golf course owned by the city of San Diego, California. It sits on the coastal cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the community of La Jolla south of Torrey Pines State Reserve. It has two famous golf courses, the North Course and the South Course....
in San Diego, with a one-stroke victory over John Rollins, taking him to his highest position yet in the World Golf Rankings, number 76.
In the 2010 PGA Championship
2010 PGA Championship
The 2010 PGA Championship was the 92nd PGA Championship. Martin Kaymer from Germany won for his first major championship, in a three-hole playoff over Bubba Watson. The tournament began on Thursday, August 12, 2010, and concluded on Sunday, August 15. It was played at the Straits Course of the...
at Whistling Straits
Whistling Straits
Whistling Straits is one of two golfing destinations associated with The American Club, a luxury resort located in nearby Kohler, Wisconsin, and owned by a subsidiary of the Kohler Company. The other course is Blackwolf Run. The Whistling Straits complex is located in the unincorporated Sheboygan...
, Watney had a three-shot lead going into the final round. However, he shot a final round of 81, which dropped him back to a tie for 18th place.
Watney won the biggest tournament of his career to date and his first World Golf Championship at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
The Doral Golf Resort & Spa is a golf resort located in Doral, Florida, USA. The resort was founded by real estate pioneer Alfred Kaskel in 1962, with the name "Doral" coming from an amalgamation of the first names of Kaskel and his wife, Dorris....
in March 2011. He entered the final round trailing by two strokes, but shot a final round 67, including a run of four birdies in five holes in the middle of the round, and finished with a birdie at the notoriously difficult 18th, to record a two-stroke victory over compatriot Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Hunter Johnson is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour having been third in the driving distance stats for three consecutive years between 2009-2011....
. Watney admitted in an interview afterwards that he had dwelt on finishing 2nd at Doral, in the same tournament two years before, when his putt on the 18th finished a couple of inches short of the hole. After the victory, Watney moved up to number 15 in the World Golf Rankings.
In July, Watney won for the second time in 2011 at the AT&T National
AT&T National
The AT&T National is a professional golf tournament held in the Washington D.C. area during the Fourth of July weekend. The PGA Tour event is hosted by Tiger Woods and benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. The first AT&T National was held July 5–8, 2007, at the Blue Course of the Congressional...
by beating K. J. Choi by two strokes. The victory owed much to his third-round score when he set a course record 62 around Aronimink Golf Club
Aronimink Golf Club
Aronimink Golf Club is a private country club located in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Its championship golf course is consistently rated among the top 100 golf courses in the United States. In 2010, Aronimink was ranked #4 among the toughest courses on the PGA Tour by Links Magazine. The club has...
, beating the previous record set coincidently on the same day, which Chris Kirk
Chris Kirk
Chris Kirk is an American professional golfer.Kirk was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, but subsequently lived in Woodstock, Georgia. He played college golf at the University of Georgia and was a member of their 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship team along with Kevin Kisner, Richard Scott...
and Steve Marino
Steve Marino
Stephen Paul Marino, Jr. is an American professional golfer, a member of the PGA Tour since 2007.-Early life, education, early golf:...
held briefly with joint 63s. Watney shot a 27 on the back nine, which tied the second lowest nine-hole score ever recorded on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
. The record is held by Corey Pavin
Corey Pavin
Corey Allen Pavin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997.-Biography:...
who shot 26 at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee
The U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee was a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It was played annually in July in the Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, Wisconsin. The tournament was held at the Brown Deer Park Golf Course. U.S. Bancorp was the main sponsor of the tournament. The 2009 purse was...
in 2006. During the final round Watney did not record a single bogey, making a number of crucial par saving putts to hold off the challenge of Choi and capture his fourth PGA Tour title. This win took Watney to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, ahead of Choi, and into the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
for the first time in his career. He finished the 2011 season ranked third on the PGA Tour money list.
During the 2011 President's Cup, he defeated K.J. Choi on the final day to give the United States team a distinct advantage over the International Team coached by Greg Norman. The four-day match play tournament was played in Melbourne, Australia.
Watney's win over Choi was significant toward America's Team victory and personally Nick decidedly defeated (3 and 2) a golfer who had a terrific year on tour and in the 2011 major tournaments. This is an indication of how Watney's game has already improved to match the very best golfers on earth.
PGA Tour wins (4)
EWLINE
|
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 22, 2007 2007 PGA Tour The 2007 PGA Tour season ran from January 4, 2007 to November 4, 2007. The season consisted of 47 official money events. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the European Tour. There were also five unofficial events played in... |
Zurich Classic of New Orleans Zurich Classic of New Orleans The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is a regular golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is played annually in New Orleans, Louisiana; its historic date has been in April, but was moved to March in 2008. Zurich Financial Services is the main sponsor of the tournament.From the event's inception through... |
3 strokes |  Ken DukeKen Duke Kenneth Wootson Duke is an American professional golfer.Duke was born in Hope, Arkansas. After turning professional in 1994, Duke first qualified for the PGA Tour in 2004, but failed to keep his card and returned to the Nationwide Tour... |
|
| 2 | Feb 8, 2009 2009 PGA Tour The 2009 PGA Tour season ran from January 8 to November 15. The season consisted of 46 official money events, one of which was canceled. This included four major championships and three World Golf Championships, which are also sanctioned by the European Tour.... |
Buick Invitational Buick Invitational The Farmers Insurance Open is a PGA Tour professional golf tournament played in the San Diego, California area in the early part of the Tour season, known as the "West Coast Swing." The tournament was noted for having singer-actor Andy Williams as a celebrity host from 1968 to 1988. The tournament... |
1 stroke | John Rollins |
|
| 3 | Mar 13, 2011 2011 PGA Tour The 2011 PGA Tour, the 44th season since the Tour became independent from the PGA of America, will consist of a total of 49 sanctioned events running from early January to late November... |
WGC-Cadillac Championship | 2 strokes | Dustin Johnson Dustin Johnson Dustin Hunter Johnson is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour having been third in the driving distance stats for three consecutive years between 2009-2011.... |
|
| 4 | Jul 3, 2011 2011 PGA Tour The 2011 PGA Tour, the 44th season since the Tour became independent from the PGA of America, will consist of a total of 49 sanctioned events running from early January to late November... |
AT&T National AT&T National The AT&T National is a professional golf tournament held in the Washington D.C. area during the Fourth of July weekend. The PGA Tour event is hosted by Tiger Woods and benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation. The first AT&T National was held July 5–8, 2007, at the Blue Course of the Congressional... |
2 strokes |  K. J. Choi |
Nationwide Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 31, 2004 2004 Nationwide Tour The 2004 Nationwide Tour season ran from February 5 to October 31. The season consisted of 31 official money golf tournaments; five of which were played outside of the United States... |
Nationwide Tour Championship | 3 strokes | Brett Wetterich Brett Wetterich Brett Milton Wetterich is an American professional golfer.Wetterich was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Oak Hills High School and Wallace State Community College... |
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | T11 | 19 | 7 | 46 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | T60 | CUT | 76 | CUT |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T35 | DNP | T27 | T7 | CUT |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
CUT | DNP | CUT | T18 | T12 |
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10.
Summary
- Tournaments played: 17
- Wins: 0
- Top 10s: 2
- Top 25s: 5
- Missed cuts: 6
- Most consecutive cuts made: 5
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship The 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship was a golf tournament that was contested from March 10–13 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Doral, Florida. It was the 12th WGC-Cadillac Championship tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events staged in 2011. Cadillac replaced CA... |
WGC-Cadillac Championship | 2 shot deficit | 2 strokes | Dustin Johnson Dustin Johnson Dustin Hunter Johnson is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour having been third in the driving distance stats for three consecutive years between 2009-2011.... |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Accenture Match Play Championship WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship is one of the annual World Golf Championships. It is a knockout event and is staged in January or February each year... |
DNP | DNP |
| Cadillac Championship | DNP | DNP |
| Bridgestone Invitational WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of the annual World Golf Championships for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour and the PGA European Tour... |
T61 | DNP |
| Tournament | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture Match Play Championship WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship is one of the annual World Golf Championships. It is a knockout event and is staged in January or February each year... |
DNP | R16 2010 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship -Ben Hogan bracket:-Gary Player bracket:-Sam Snead bracket:-Final Four:-Breakdown by country:-Prize money and FedEx Cup points breakdown:* Sources: -External links:*... |
R16 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship -Ben Hogan bracket:-Gary Player bracket:-Sam Snead bracket:-Final Four:-Breakdown by country:-Prize money and FedEx Cup points breakdown:* Sources: -External links:*... |
| Cadillac Championship | 2 2009 WGC-CA Championship The 2009 WGC-CA Championship was a golf tournament that was contested from March 12–15 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Doral, Florida. It was the tenth WGC-CA Championship tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events staged in 2009.... |
T26 | 1 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship The 2011 WGC-Cadillac Championship was a golf tournament that was contested from March 10–13 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Doral, Florida. It was the 12th WGC-Cadillac Championship tournament, and the second of four World Golf Championships events staged in 2011. Cadillac replaced CA... |
| Bridgestone Invitational WGC-Bridgestone Invitational The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is one of the annual World Golf Championships for male professional golfers. It is sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours and the prize money is official money on both the PGA Tour and the PGA European Tour... |
T36 | T16 | T23 |
| HSBC Champions | 5 2009 WGC-HSBC Champions The 2009 WGC-HSBC Champions was a golf tournament that was contested from November 5–8, 2009 at the Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, China. It was the first WGC-HSBC Champions tournament, and the fourth of four World Golf Championships events held in 2009.... |
T21 | T33 |
- DNP = Did not play
- QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
- "T" = tied
- Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
- Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.
U.S. national team appearances
Professional- World Cup: 20092009 Omega Mission Hills World CupThe 2009 Omega Mission Hills World Cup took place from November 26 to November 29 at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. It was the 55th World Cup. 28 countries competed as two player teams...
- Presidents CupPresidents CupThe Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world less Europe. Europe competes against the U.S. in a similar but considerably older event, the Ryder Cup. The Presidents Cup is held biennially...
: 20112011 Presidents CupUnited States 19 - International 15The 9th Presidents Cup Matches were held from 17 to 20 November 2011. They were played at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. The United States team won by a score of 19 to 15 over the International team. Jim Furyk won all five of his...
(winners)