Watson's win first for Titleist Pro V1x prototype

Bubba Watson produced a stirring finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China to register a first triumph for the new Titleist Pro V1x prototype golf ball

Bubba Watson produced a stirring finish at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China to register a first triumph for the new Titleist Pro V1x prototype golf ball.

Watson was two clear with three holes remaining but a bogey, double run from the 16th put his challenge in real jeopardy.

But, with playing partner Tim Clark one shot clear and facing a short birdie putt on the 18th hole, the two-time Masters champion holed his bunker shot for eagle.

With Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Hiroshi Iwata failing to make birdies at the closing hole, Watson and Clark - a fellow Titleist ball user - headed to a play-off.

On the first extra hole, the left-hander holed a slick downhill 15-footer to record his first WGC title and become only the third player - after Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy - to win a major and a WGC in the same season.

Aside from Watson, Ian Poulter and Marc Leishman - who both finished inside the top 10 - put the new Titleist Pro V1x prototype into play.

Fellow top-10 finishers Jason Dufner and Rickie Fowler (Pro V1x) also used Titleist Pro V1 balls in China, while Hunter Mahan and Jordan Spieth were two more to put the prototype Pro V1x into play for the first time.

At the WGC-HSBC Champions, some 41 players used Titleist golf balls, as compared with 17 for the nearest competitor.

Elsewhere, SSP Chowrasia, Rafael Becker and Louis de Jager - winners on the Asian, PGA LatinoAmerica and Sunshine Tours respectively - used Titleist golf balls en route to success.