Bubba Watson took control of the Travelers Championship early in the final round with a birdie-birdie start but he would have to survive a playoff with Paul Casey to win his second title at the TPC River Highlands on Sunday.
The playoff came to a crashing halt on the second time around the 18th hole when Casey thinned a greenside bunker shot over the green to virtually hand the championship to Watson. But Watson was merciful, he hit a glorious second shot that stopped just seven feet from the hole and he ran in the birdie for his eighth win on the PGA Tour.
The two tied at 16-under par, thanks to a bogey by Watson at the par three 17th and a closing 65 by Casey. Casey’s shot of the day was an eagle-two at the par four third hole that got him rolling.
Watson seemingly took control at the par five 13th when he holed a 25-foot eagle putt that got him to 17-under.
Brian Harman, who held the overnight lead, hurt himself with a pair of bogeys at the first two holes but he rallied to shoot one-under par and take solo third at 15-under par. Graham DeLaet was solo fourth at 14-under.
But it was Watson who was the beneficiary of the great approach and Casey’s blunder.
“Casey played great,” Watson said after his win. “I hung on and sometimes that’s what you have to do to win.”
