Here is the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2022 Saudi International
East Carolina golf alum Harold Varner III walks off PIF Saudi International on eagle, defeats Bubba Watson
Just when it seemed Harold Varner III was going to come away from the end of the Saudi International with merely another “learning experience," the 31-year-old North Carolina native pulled out the most spectacular finish of his career to walk off with his biggest title.
After squandering his 54-hole lead with a double bogey on the 14th hole and bogey on the 16th, Varner was two shots back of Bubba Watson with two holes to play at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Varner then made a birdie on the par-4 17th before rolling in a 100-foot-plus eagle putt from just off the green to wildly pull out the win with a final-round one-under 69 and a 13-under 267 total.It appeared Watson would be the surprise winner on Sunday, the two-time Masters champion playing a flawless round after starting the day six back of Varner. A closing 64 included a 14-foot eagle of his own on the 18th to seemingly lock up the title before Varner, still searching for a PGA Tour win, pulled off his heroics.While many players controversially received lucrative appearance fees to compete in the Asian Tour event, the actually prize money payout for the tournament was $5 million, with Watson earning a first-place prize of $1 million. Here’s the prize money payout break down (separate from appearance fees) for each golfer who made the cut in the event.DUBAI (WNCN) – East Carolina University alum Harold Varner III needed a birdie to enter a playoff with professional golf veteran Bubba Watson at the PIF Saudi International on Sunday. But Varner III decided extra time wasn’t for him and sunk a 120-foot eagle instead to win his second professional title.
Varner III finished 13-under par at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia to edge out Watson, and the rest of the field, by one stroke.
The win marks his second professionally, and his first since 2016 (Australian PGA Championship).arner III scored a 64 in Round 1, a 66 in Round 2, a 68 in Round 3 and a 69 in Round 4.
He attended ECU from 2008-12 and was on the men’s golf team all four years before turning pro after graduation.
Varner III was the first player in Pirates’ history to be named Conference USA Golfer-of-the-Year before ECU was a member of the American Athletic Conference.
He is also a three-time All-Conference USA selection and a two-time Golf Coaches Association of America All-East Region player. Varner III also became the second player at ECU to earn an individual at-large berth to an NCAA regional. Finally, he recorded 18 top-10 finishes and 30 top-20 finishes during his time as a Pirate.
