CROMWELL, Conn. — Paul Casey might love playing the Travelers Championship, but Bubba Watson owns it.
Coming from six shots back on the final day, Watson defeated Casey once again to capture his third Travelers Championship and the $1.26 million top prize.
Bubba Watson of the United States acknowledges the gallery after making a par on the fourth green ...more
Tim Bradbury, Getty Images
Watson shot 7-under-par 63 to deny Casey a victory at TPC River Highlands for the second time in four years. Watson also won in 2015, beating Casey on the second playoff hole for his second title.
“I wasn’t really focused on winning the golf tournament until we got to the last three holes,” said Watson, 39, who earned his first PGA win at the 2010 Travelers while his father was battling cancer. “That’s when I fist-pumped on 15 because I knew we had a shot at it."
Billy Casper is the only player with more success in this tournament, winning it four times. This win gives Watson three for the season, the most on the PGA Tour, and 12 for his career.
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After a 366-yard tee shot on the par-4 18th hole, Watson dropped his second shot two feet, 6 inches from the pin. He made the birdie to take a one-shot lead, then waited for Casey to finish his final four holes.
The final round started off ordinary for Watson with four straight pars after he entered the day at 10-under. He birdied the fifth and sixth holes but gave one back with a bogey on No. 8.
“It’s one of those where you’re just trying to make some birdies,” he said. “He was so far ahead all you are trying to do is play your golf and try to get to second place, third place or whatever.”
A 356-yard drive on the par-4 ninth hole put Watson on the green, and he went on to birdie it. After birdies on No. 10, 12 and 13, Watson tied Casey at 16-under with an 11-footer on the 15th hole.
Meanwhile, Casey opened the round with a birdie on the first hole to move to 17-under, but bogeyed the fifth. The rest of the round was nothing but pars until he dropped two shots back with a bogey on the 16th, then lost another stroke with a bogey on No. 17.
“I was fighting it and I didn’t have my swing all day,” said Casey, who tied for second with three others at 14-under. “I battled as hard as I could, but to only make one birdie all day is not good.”
Following his 62 on Saturday, Casey, who held a four-shot lead after three rounds, said it would be difficult to repeat the performance.
His prediction rang true, finishing with a 2-over 72.
On the other side, Watson opened the tournament at even par, but turned it on the next three days.
“My caddie Teddy (Scott) told me, 'There’s 72 holes so just keep playing,’” Watson said. “I came back the last three.”
The field included five players in the world’s top 10. Seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy and Jason Day (No. 9) tied for 12th at 11-under. U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka (No. 4) tied for 19th at 9-under, while No. 5 Jordan Spieth was 4-under and No. 2 Justin Thomas at 2-under.