The Legend Of Bubba Watson was born six years ago, this week, at this stop on the PGA Tour.
The Travelers at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT., was the setting for Watson’s first career victory.
It looked like it wasn’t going to happen on the 71st hole when he found a fairway bunker off the tee then cold topped a wedge shot from there into the water guarding the green. He made double-bogey but rebounded with a birdie on the final hole to get into a playoff with Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank. They’re no longer around, Bubba is.
Watson has become a major character as well as a major champion. In 2010, he shot rounds of 65-68-67-66, 14-under par.
He won again at the Travelers last year, shooting 16-under and beating Paul Casey in a playoff.
He obviously likes the golf course and that’s a big thing with Watson. If he likes a course, he’ll contend, if he doesn’t, well, that’s Bubba.
Zach Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Branden Grace, Matt Kuchar, Patrick Reed and Jim Furyk will be in the field on Thursday. So will rookie John Rahm, one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour who didn’t qualify for last week’s PGA Championship.
Watson is playing a lot of golf. After this week, he’ll head to Rio with Rickie Fowler, Reed and Kuchar to compete in the Olympic Games.
But he has some business to take care of on a course he likes.
Watson won earlier this season at the Northern Trust back in February but after a lackluster major season, perhaps some good memories from this event can boost him towards a better finish to the year.
