Before the capsule goes down, though, officials said, metal casing or tubes would have to be lowered into the hole to provide a buffer between the capsule and rock.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Watney, who was runner-up at the WGC-CA Championship event in March, could have led by even more, but bogeyed his final hole after three-putting to have a two-shot buffer over Germany's Martin Kaymer and Irishman Shane Lowry.

CNN: Watney ties record as Tiger lurks in Shanghai