Denis Watson - Media Guide

his first start at the Turtle Bay Championship and he was off and running...Finished the season fourth on the money list, with $1,636,123 in season earnings, two wins, 12 top-10 finishes (third overall on Champions Tour) and a third-place in the final Charles Schwab Cup race that earned him a $300,000 annuity... Undoubtedly, the highlight of his campaign was his triumph at the Senior PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, SC, claiming his first tournament title in almost 23 years. Made up four shots on Eduardo Romero in two holes on The Ocean Course on Sunday and hung on to win in his 12th career Champions Tour start. Became the first international player to win the prestigious event since South Africa's Gary Player claimed the 1990 title at PGA National...Added a second win in August near Seattle when he prevailed in a record seven-man playoff at the Boeing Classic. Despite a double bogey on the 71st hole, he still earned a spot in the playoff. Chipped in from 23 feet on the first extra hole for a birdie to join Craig Stadler and R.W. Eaks on the second hole and then ended the affair with an 18-foot eagle putt. It marked the first time a playoff had ended with an eagle since 1985 when Lee Elder defeated Peter Thomson at the 1985 Merrill Lynch Golf Digest Commemorative...Had an impressive showing in his first start of the season, joining four others to finish T2 behind winner Fred Funk at the Turtle Bay Championship...Added a second top-10 to his resume when he was T3 at the Toshiba Classic in March...Nearly earned a spot in the playoff at the Regions Charity Classic in May when he recorded rounds of 66-67 on the weekend to finish one stroke shy of the Brad Bryant-Eaks overtime session, eventually won by Bryant on the third extra hole...Also T5 at the U.S. Senior Open at Whistling Straits...Capped his year with a T2 finish at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in October in Sonoma, CA. Was the 54-hole leader by one stroke over Brad Bryant and Jim Thorpe following rounds of 69-64-68. The 64 was his season-low. Fired a final round 70, but could not hold off a late charge by Thorpe, who closed with four straight birdies for his third win in the event...Made two starts on the Nationwide Tour and was the first-round leader at the Henrico County Open before finishing T43. Also T64 at the South Georgia Classic...Competed in the PGA Championship, thanks to his win at the Senior PGA Championship but missed the cut...Made three starts on the European Seniors Tour and was T16 at the Senior British Open, T18 at the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and T20 at the PGA Seniors Championship...Finished in the top 10 in six statistical categories, including fifth in the All-Around...Champions Tour Player of the Month in May.

the SAS Championship and finished 78th near Houston at the Administaff Small Business Classic. 2005: Turned 50 on Tuesday of the SBC Championship in San Antonio, the last full-field event of the season, and finished T54 in his Champions Tour debut. Played seven events on the Nationwide Tour, as well.

his biggest thrills outside of golf...Started playing golf at age 14 when his dad took him to play...Served two years in the Rhodesian Army...Has also worked as an insurance relief officer and as an assistant professional/instructor...Did some work for PGA TOUR Radio in the past.