Travelers Championship
Cromwell, CT
Beginning the day six shots back, two-time past champ and World No. 20 Bubba Watson twirled a season-tying-low, 7-under-par 33-30=63 in Sunday’s final round at TPC River Highlands for a 72-hole tally of 17-under 263, good for a three-shot win over runners-up Stewart Cink (62), Beau Hossler (66), J.B. Holmes (67), and 54-hole leader Paul Casey (72).
The 39-year-old, a pre-tourney 28/1 outright, bags his 12th PGA TOUR title in 288 events. It’s his seventh come-from-behind victory, first since here in 2015, where he came from one back with 3-under 67 and defeated Casey in a playoff.
Overall, this is the Georgia alum’s third Travelers title in 12 tries. He also came from six back in 2010 with 4-under 66 and won in a playoff for his first TOUR win in his fifth campaign.
FUN FACT: Bubba entered the week as the all-time earnings leader at the Travelers, $867,226 ahead of one-time winner and two-time runner-up Hunter Mahan. He’s now banked a total of $4,718,573 in Cromwell and is $2,111,546 clear of No. 2 Mahan. Two-time past champ and two-time runner-up Cink is now No. 3.
The Floridian wins for the third time this season in 15 starts and is the first player to reach three “W’s”. Five others have two wins apiece. It’s Bubba’s first three-win season since joining the TOUR in 2006.
For the week, he totaled one eagle and 22 birdies against seven bogeys. Watson is now 13-for-15 on the season with five top 25s, all doubling as top 10s, and four top 5s.
His first victory this season at the Genesis (as 54-hole leader) ended a 2-year winless drought. Afterwards, he revealed that he had been seriously contemplating retirement due to his poor play. It was his third win at the Genesis.
Watson’s second win this season at the WGC-Match Play (as a 35-seed) was his second WGC title. Including this victory, he’s now won three times in his last 10 starts.
Watson’s Season:
Starts: 15
Cuts Made: 13
Top 25s: 5
Top 10s: 5
Top 5s: 4
Wins: 3
Season Form: 1-MC-44-57-28-5-1-66-9-1-35-40-MC-67-51
FedExCup: 3rd (UP 7)
OWGR: 13th (UP 7)
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20 (of 34) winners this season had a top-25 finish the start prior (58.8%):
Watson? No: CUT (U.S. Open)
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11 (of 34) winners this season had a top-10 finish the start prior (32.3%)
Watson? No: CUT (U.S. Open)
FUN FACT: Through 34 non-team events, Bubba is just the third player to miss the cut in start prior to win (McIlroy, API; Armour, Sanderson Farms). He entered off a MC by three at Shinnecock Hills (77-74).
FUN FACT: Watson is the 23rd straight winner this season with either 0 or 1 week off prior to their wins. In total, 29 (of 34) event winners fall into this category. #NoLongLayoffsPlease
Final Leaderboard (pre-tourney odds outright):
1- (-17) Bubba Watson (28/1)
T2- (-14) Stewart Cink (80/1)
T2- (-14) Beau Hossler (80/1)
T2- (-14) J.B. Holmes (66/1)
T2- (-14) Paul Casey (16/1)
Field Scoring Average:
This was the 67th Travelers, 28th and 28th consecutive at TPC River Highlands:
Yardage: 6,841
Par: 70 (35-35)
Cumulative scoring averages:
R1: 69.78
R2: 69.99
R3: 69.11
R4: 68.87
Total: 69.60
Watson: 70-63-67-63 for 14.742 SG: Total
Watson’s Position by Round:
R1: T77 (7 back)
R2: T8 (3 back)
R3: T6 (6 back)
After kicking off in 70-63-67, Watson began in a five-way T6. Playing out of the fifth-to-last twosome, he found nine (of 14) fairways and 13 greens in regulation, gaining 4.214 strokes tee-to-green. He squared a lone bogey-4 at hole 8, outflanked by eight birdies at 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 18, highlighted by a hole-out 3 at 10 from 49'1" away and a walk-off 3. The Floridian recorded 1.462 putts per GIR and 1.635 SG: Putting with 24 total putts.
FUN FACT: Bubba ranked 95th on TOUR in R4 scoring average entering the week at 70.90 (10 rounds). He’s now 52nd at 70.18. Bubba’s R4 scoring average at the Travelers, however, is 66.30 (10 rounds). In 44 laps total, 34 are in the red and has posted 63 or better five times, twice this week, and carded a still-tied-career-low 62 in 2015/R1.
FUN FACT: In R4, Bubba ranked 73rd (of 74) in proximity to hole (45’1”) but No. 1 in SG: Off-the-Tee (2.35), 6th in SG: Around-the-Green (1.80), 12th in SG: Putting (1.65), and second (to Cink) in SG: Total (5.86).
FUN FACT: Bubba’s closing 63 is the lowest R4 score by a winner this season, previously 64 three times.
Watson at Travelers:
Starts: 12
Cuts Made: 10
Top 25s: 8
Top 10s: 6
Top 5s: 5
Wins: 3
Travelers Form: 1-MC-25-P1-31-4-2-38-P1-14-6
KEY STRETCHS:
Bubba at the drivable par-4 15th: green side bunker off the tee, 83’2” from the hole. Off a downhill lie and hitting toward the water, found the backside of the green and dropped the birdie from 11’2”. That was his seventh birdie of the round, now 6-under for the day, but more importantly, it tied Casey for the lead on 16-under. Watson knew the significance, and knew it was going in, celebrating with an emphatic fist-pump before the ball even dropped.
Bubba at the par-4 18th: 366-yard drive in the fairway. 77 yards to 30 inches. Brushed in the birdie for an eight-circle, one-square 63 and 17-under total. Note: 17-under was the score Casey reached after birdieing hole 1.
Casey at the par-4 1st: errant tee shot (way right) but caromed back into the fairway. Golf God Giveth. Second over the green. Using the flat stick from 21’2”, rammed in the birdie. It was his only par breaker of the day.
Casey at the par-3 5th: missed par-saver from 51 inches.
AT THE TURN: With one birdie and one bogey, Casey still led by two on 16-under. Cink was in on 14-under w/ a week-tying and career-tying-low 62. Watson was 14-under playing the par-5 13th.
Casey at par-4 10th: hit rescue club off the tee, 269 yards in the fairway, but dead behind a tree. He could only chip out (to the left), leaving 201 yards for his third. He hit that to 28’2”, and then canned the par-saver. Still, no opportunity for a scoring chance after a perfect drive. Golf Gods Taketh Away.
Casey at par-5 13th: tee ball in the water, penalty. Hit his third to within 37 yards and his fourth to 10’1”. Canned another par-saver, but again, no scoring chance.
Casey at par-3 16th: missed par-saver from 47 inches. #GameOver
Casey at par-4 17th: conservatively used iron off the tee and went in the water anyway, penalty. Made bogey.
Casey at par-4 18th: missed rare birdie try (only 10 GIR in R4) from 15’7” for a would-be solo 2nd. His T2 is third top 5 at Travelers in four tries and second runner-up. P2 on debut in 2015 (to Watson), where he closed with 65.
Holmes at par-5 13th: missed birdie from 8’7”. Later, ridiculously poor drive (of 193 yards) at the 421-yard, par-4 14th, leaving 228 yards; led to bogey. Missed birdie at 16 from 6’11”. Missed green at 18 from just 91 yards out (in the fairway). Missed par-saver from 5’6”.
NOT SO FUN FACT: In R4, Casey ranked last in SG: OTT (-3.01), 49th in SG: Approach (-0.58), 61st in SG: Putting (-1.42); and 61st in SG: Total (-3.14). His scoring average thru the first three rounds 64.66. In the end, all he needed was a 68 and he would have won. He was aggressive off hole 1 with driver but played pretty timidly the rest of the way. His proximity to hole in R4 was 39’3” (rank: 55th) and never had a birdie look from closer than 14’5”. #Pressure. In a now 16 rounds here, he has 14 in the red and just two over-par, both in R4. Casey drops to 1-for-4 as 54-hole leader/co-leader and his R4 scoring average in those opportunities is 72.50. His only conversion was his first win at the 2009 Houston Open (playoff).
Watson’s Career:
288: Starts
210: Cuts Made (72.9%)
118: Top 25s (40.9%)
61: Top 10s (21.1%)
31: Top 3s (10.7%)
12: Wins (4.1%)
Wins by Season:
2018: 3
2017: 0
2016: 1
2015: 2
2014: 2
2013: 0
2012: 1
2011: 2
2010: 1 (fifth season; 122nd start)
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Through 34 events (35 winners) this season:
11 winners were in their 20s
19 were in their 30s (Watson: age 39)
5 were in their 40s
Draw:
A total of 74 players from a field of 156 made the 36-hole cut of 2-under 138:
38 (of 78) EARLY/late
36 (of 78) LATE/early
11 players finished in the top 10:
EARLY/late (4):
Beau Hossler (T2); J.B. Holmes (T2); Russell Henley (T6); Chase Seiffert (T9)
LATE/early (7):
Bubba Watson (Won); Stewart Cink (T2); Paul Casey (T2); Kevin Tway (T6); Brian Harman (T6); Bryson DeChambeau (T9); Anirban Lahiri (T9)
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22 (of 34) tourneys this season with a traditional draw:
Winners:
EARLY/late: 12
LATE/early: 10 (Watson)
Leader/co-leaders by Round:
R1: Zach Johnson (finished T19): 1-for-10 as 18-hole leader/co-leader
R1: Jordan Spieth (T42): 3-for-9
R2: Brian Harman (finished T6): 0-for-4 as 36-hole leader/co-leader
R3: Paul Casey (finished T2): 1-for-4 as 54-hole leader/co-leader
FUN FACT: Watson ends a season-streak of eight straight 54-hole leader/co-leaders who had converted. The last come-from-behind winner prior to this week was Satoshi Kodaira (Heritage).
NOT SO FUN FACT: Since the beginning of last season, players w/ a 4-shot lead or greater had been 10-for-12 converting (83.30%). Casey is the second this season to squander a 4-shot lead or greater. DJ had a 6-shot lead at the WGC-HSBC and finished T2 after 5-over 77. Rose won, coming from eight back w/ 5-under 67.
Low Rounds:
R1: 63: Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth
R2: 63: Bubba Watson, Lanto Griffin
R3: 62: Paul Casey
R4: 62: Stewart Cink
Bogey-free Rounds:
R1: (5): Beau Hossler (65); Matt Jones (65); Padraig Harrington (66); Danny Lee (67); Ryan Moore (68)
R2: (5): Dominic Bozzelli (64); Russell Henley (65); Zach Johnson (68); Keith Mitchell (68); Denny McCarthy (68)
R3: (6): Paul Casey (62); Jamie Lovemark (64); Patrick Cantlay (65); Emiliano Grillo (66); Russell Henley (67); Chase Seiffert – OQ (67)
R4: (2): Sam Ryder (64); Adam Hadwin (66)
Multiple Bogey-free Rounds:
Henley (x2)
Northeast Angle:
Eight players with Northeast connections made the cut:
Position thru 36 holes:
T17: Scott Stallings (finished T38); Massachusetts native
T25: J.J. Henry (finished T42); Connecticut native, 2006 champ
T25: John Huh (finished T61); New York, NY, native
T34: Brett Stegmaier (T42); Connecticut native
T34: Richy Werenski (T26); Massachusetts native
T53: Dominic Bozzelli (T72); New York state native
T53: Keegan Bradley (T47); Vermont native
T53: James Driscoll - OQ (T61); Massachusetts native
Played the U.S. Open AND Travelers: (50 players)
MISSED Cut at U.S. Open AND at Travelers: (10)
Satoshi Kodaira, Doug Ghim (pro debut), Brian Stuard, Chesson Hadley, Graeme McDowell, Ollie Schniederjans, Chez Reavie, Ted Potter, Jr., Harold Varner III, Luke List
MISSED Cut at U.S. Open / MADE Cut at Travelers: (15)
Bubba Watson (Won); Rory McIlroy (finished T12); Jason Day (T12); Kyle Stanley (T15); Emiliano Grillo (T19); Matt Jones (T19); Si Woo Kim (T26); Richy Werenski (T26); Lanto Griffin (T38); Scott Stallings (T38); Adam Hadwin (T42); Jordan Spieth (T42); Mackenzie Hughes (T42); Keegan Bradley (T47); Trey Mullinax (T67)
MADE Cut at BOTH U.S. Open AND Travelers: (13)
Brooks Koepka: Won, U.S. Open // T19, Travelers
Daniel Berger: T6, U.S. Open // T67, Travelers
Russell Knox: T12, U.S. Open // T38, Travelers
Zach Johnson: T12, U.S. Open // T19, Travelers
Paul Casey: T16, U.S. Open // T2, Travelers
Charley Hoffman: T20, U.S. Open // T15, Travelers
Russell Henley: T25, U.S. Open // T6, Travelers
Bryson DeChambeau: T25, U.S. Open // T9, Travelers
Justin Thomas: T25, U.S. Open // T56, Travelers
Brian Harman: T36, U.S. Open // T6, Travelers
Patrick Rodgers: T41, U.S. Open // T26, Travelers
Patrick Cantlay: T45, U.S. Open // T15, Travelers
Tyler Duncan: T56, U.S. Open // T33, Travelers
MADE Cut at U.S. Open / MISSED Cut at Travelers (12):
Patrick Reed: 4th, U.S. Open // MC
Xander Schauffele: T6, U.S. Open // MC
Webb Simpson: T10, U.S. Open // MC
Dylan Meyer (pro debut): T20, U.S. Open // MC at Travelers
Aaron Baddeley: T25, U.S. Open // MC
Pat Perez: T36, U.S. Open // MC
Bill Haas: T36, U.S. Open // MC
Jhonattan Vegas: T41, U.S. Open // MC
Marc Leishman: T45, U.S. Open // MC
Brandt Snedeker: T48, U.S. Open // MC
Jim Furyk: T48, U.S. Open // MC
Brendan Steele: 63rd, U.S. Open // MC
Player Spotlights:
Stewart Cink, World No. 149: the 45-year-old, playing out of the 15th-to-last twosome, closed with a career-best 10 birdies against two bogeys for T2 on 14-under 266 (68-68-68-62). It’s his 11th career runner-up, first since the 2008 PODS (now Valspar) Championship. The Georgia Tech alum posted consecutive top 5s on TOUR (T2-T4) for the first time since 2008.
Beau Hossler, World No. 88: birdied four of his final six holes en route to a 4-under 66 and a career-tying-best T2 on 14-under 266 (65-67-68-66). Making his 34th career start (30th pro), the 23-year-old records his second runner-up, joining a P2 at the 2018 Houston Open as 54-hole co-leader.
J.B. Holmes, World No. 93: needing a hole-out eagle-2 at 18 to tie Watson, the 36-year-old missed the green and a par-saver from 5’6”, giving up a would-be solo 2nd. He finished T2 on 14-under 266 (66-68-65-67). This is the Kentucky product’s second straight top 10 of the season after solo 3rd at the St. Jude, and the first time posting consecutive top 3s since 2010.
Russell Henley, World No. 55: solo 2nd thru 54 holes this week, played the final round at last week’s U.S. Open, where he was an 18-hole co-leader, with Tommy Fleetwood, who shot 63. Henley had just two bogeys this week, No. 1 in that stat, but mustered just 15 birdies (T39), 2 birdies, 1 bogey in R4. He was T1 in driving accuracy and 1st in GIR. His season-best T6 on 13-under 267 (66-65-67-69) is his seventh top 25 of the season in 17 starts, two straight, and second top 10, bettering a T8 at the Houston Open as defender.
Brian Harman, World No. 28: fourth career 36-hole lead/co-lead, third this season. Drops to 0-for-4 with T6 on 13-under 267 (64-66-69-68). On the bright side, he’s tied for the season lead in top 10s with Dustin Johnson (idle) with eight (in 18 starts).
Chase Seiffert, World No. 1675: open-qualifier, for a second straight year. The FSU alum closed with a career-low, 6-under 64 to finish a career-best T9 on 12-under 268 (66-71-67-64). This was the 26-year-old’s fifth career TOUR start, first this season. His previous best was T43 here last year, T4 thru 36 holes. The top 10 gets the non-member an exemption into A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier in two weeks.
Rory McIlroy, World No. 7: pre-tourney tri-fave outright (12/1), entered off his third straight MC in U.S. Opens. Finished T12 on 11-under 269 (64-69-69-67). No. 1 for the week in SG: Off-the-Tee (7.017) and SG: Tee-to-Green (14.212) but 74th (last) in SG: Putting (-5.468).
Brooks Koepka, World No. 4: pre-tourney tri-fave outright (12/1), finished T19 on 9-under (68-69-69-65). Honored his commitment to play the Travelers after winning back-to-back U.S. Opens. T1 in total birdies with 23. Fifth top 25 of season in just nine starts.
Jordan Spieth, World No. 5: defender and pre-tourney 14/1 outright, finished T42 on 4-under 276 (63-73-71-69) after being a first-round co-leader. He drops to 3-for-9 when leading/co-leading after 18 holes. Week ranks: 21st in SG: Putting (3.248); 53rd in SG: OTT (-0.915); 55th in SG: Approach (-0.997). Spieth drops to No. 6 in OWGR, first time he’s been outside of the Top 5 in over a year.
Justin Thomas, World No. 2: top-ranked OWGRer and pre-tourney tri-fave outright (12/1). Finished T56 on 2-under 278 (66-69-70-73). It’s his first non-top 25 of the season in 15 individual starts and his worst finish since a T75/MDF at last year’s PLAYERS (another Pete Dye design).
