Bubba Watson stormed from six shots behind in the final round to overhaul Paul Casey and win the Travelers Championship by three strokes.
Watson carded a seven-under-par 63, capping a dominant performance with a three-foot birdie at the final hole at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut after almost holing his approach with a wedge. The American finished on 17 under par to become the first three-time winner on the PGA Tour this year.
“It’s been an amazing ride, my whole career, but this year has been outstanding,” said Watson after securing his 12th PGA Tour title.
He previously won in February at Riviera in Los Angeles, also for the third time, and in March at the World Golf Championships-Match Play in Texas.
Casey started the day with a four-shot lead over his closest rival, American Russell Henley, but a birdie at the first hole was his only one the entire day, as his swing deserted him. He carded 72 to tie for second at 14 under with Americans J.B. Holmes, Beau Hossler and Stewart Cink, who fired a closing 62.
Watson took his time to reel in Casey, finally doing so with a 10-foot birdie at the 15th hole. “That’s when I really started thinking, OK, we can win this thing,” said Watson, who also beat Casey in the same event in 2015 via a playoff.
Sunday’s performance all but ensures Watson a place on the United States Ryder Cup team. He failed to make the 2016 team.
Casey described his day as ‘terribly frustrating’, after posting his eighth runner-up finish on the PGA Tour. He hit some poor drives, not least at the par-five 13th, which leaked right into a hazard, but his putter saved him for most of the day, until the 16th, where his missed a four-footer for par. He then found water off the tee at the par-four 17th, and slipped back into the back on 14 under.
“I fought my golf swing all day, as you could see coming down the last couple of holes,” Casey said. “You’ve got to give credit to Bubba, but I’ll go away and analyse this and see what we can do better in future.”
BUBBA WATSON’S WINNING GEAR:
Driver: Ping G400 LST (8.5°)
Fairway Wood: Ping G (14.5°)
Irons: Ping iBlade (2), Ping S55 irons (4-PW)
Wedges: Ping Glide 2.0 (52, 56, 60)
Putter: Ping PLD Anser putter
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Shoes: G/Fore Disruptor
Glove: G/Fore Collection