Bubba resurgence continues with Travelers triumph

What happened at the Travelers Championship?

The Travelers Championship is one of the tournaments on the schedule that nearly always delivers drama, and this year was no different.

Paul Casey started the day with a four-shot lead, but was eventually reeled in by a charging Bubba Watson who shot 63 to win his third title at TPC River Highlands.

Watson began with four straight pars, but a birdie at the 5^th sparked a stretch of quite stunning golf. He’d go on to make a further two birdies on the front-nine, and then birdied 10, 12, 13, 15 and 18 – where he very nearly holed his approach.

The pressure was then firmly on Casey, who hadn’t looked quite right all day. He birdied his first hole but the wheels fell off when he reached the 16^th after missing a three-footer for par. On the very next hole, Casey pushed his drive into the water to all but end his chance.

J.B. Holmes needed to hole his approach on the final hole to force a playoff, but a sloppy bogey meant Watson would run out a comfortable three-shot winner.

It’s Watson’s 12^th PGA Tour victory and he is putting together quite the season after such a poor stretch last year. Prior to 2018, Watson’s last win came in 2016 at the Northern Trust Open. It’s only June and already he has won the Genesis Open, the WGC-Match Play and now the Travelers Championship.

Third win this season.
Third win @TravelersChamp.

His Sunday 63 gives him his 12th PGA TOUR title!

Congratulations, @BubbaWatson! ?#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/u445SruOgj

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

Full Travelers Championship leaderboard

Talking Point

One of the most bizarre stories of the week came on Saturday, when Zach Johnson was given a penalty after his ball fell into the hole after the allowed 10 seconds.

Playing the par-4 third hole, Johnson hit his putt and the ball teetered on the edge of the hole. The former Open and Masters champion walked to his ball, waited 10 seconds, and then went to tap in only for the ball to drop into the hole on its own.

Here's something you don't see every day.https://t.co/xS8EHldtT1 pic.twitter.com/EHAzoF0kiu

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 23, 2018

“The ball’s deemed to be at rest,” said the PGA Tour vice president of rules, Mark Russell. “If it falls in after the 10 seconds, you’ve deemed to have holed out with your previous shot and add one.

“If that would have happened with eight seconds once he had reached the hole, he would have made a 3. But that’s a specific rule dealing with ball overhanging hole.”

Golf’s rules never fail to confuse.

Best quote

Bubba Watson:

This year has been like a new start for me, a rookie season for me.

Best moments

Family first. ❤

Well done, Dad. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/ODQgx2QFQZ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

CLUTCH!@BubbaWatson nearly holes it! ?

The birdie gives him the solo lead @TravelersChamp. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/U5X7CNXaKU

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

BANG! Bubba's comin'. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/MnDqqSdhnL

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

#BubbaGolf is crafty.

1 back. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/8uOzEPlxG6

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

Tree? What tree? ?

What a save! Wow.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/SwQLoIKDCq

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

3 birdies in 4 holes.

Here comes @BubbaWatson.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/VmqoJvkKe8

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

TENTH birdie today for @StewartCink!

62. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/nAQo1hHFf7

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

BUBBA! ?

Tied for second.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/c8gDfhaqap

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

How about THIS bounce?

Maybe it's just his week.@Paul_Casey leads by 5.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/0oe1QUcqdO

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

Another circle for Cink.
???????

He's -7 thru 10!#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/GtXiTSb75t

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018