Watson’s emotional PGA breakthrough
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2010 Travelers Championship | Round Four | 28 Jun 2010
An emotional Bubba Watson embraced his wife Angie and cried openly with the realisation of his first PGA Tour victory at this week’s Travelers Championship. The 32 year old’s playoff victory over Scott Verplank and Corey Pavin came after a bizarre final 90 minutes or so of the final day of the event at the TPC River Highlands on the outskirts of Hartford where many had and lost their chances.
Watson’s emotions were no doubt largely due to getting across the line for the first time after several near misses on the PGA Tour but he was clearly moved by the plight of his father who is battling cancer at the moment. “This is for my mom and dad,” he said immediately after winning. “Without them I would be nothing.”
The tournament appeared as if it was developing into a battle between long time leader Justin Rose and Ben Curtis before Watson, Verplank and Pavin took advantage of late mishaps by Curtis and Rose and claimed a place in the playoff.
Pavin dropped out quickly after a mishit drive left him too much to do at the first extra hole and both Verplank and Watson birdied to move to the second playoff hole, the par three 16th. Watson’s tee shot finished on the front of the green and he two putted while Verplank was just left of the green and when unable to get up and down the title was Watson’s.
Watson, now in his 5th PGA Tour season, had been four times runner up and through eleven holes of his final round it appeared as if it might just be another solid if unspectacular week. Then came his powerful finish with five birdies in his last seven holes. It appeared as if a double bogey at the 17th, after finding the water from the fairway bunker, might have cost him his chance but a bounce back birdie at the last saw him make the playoff against the Ryder Cup captain Pavin and five time PGA Tour winner Verplank.
Chris Riley finished alone in 4th position, his best finish in nearly two years, while Padraig Harrington, Chad Campbell, Retief Goosen, and Ricky Barnes tied for 5th.
The leading Australian was Matt Jones who finished 13th and earned US$99,000 taking his earnings for the season to US$920,000. He is assured of retaining his playing privileges for 2011 and continues to steadily improve his standing at this level.
Michael Sim was 27th, Aaron Baddeley and Stuart Appleby 27th, first round leader Mathew Goggin 34th, Steve Elkington 47th and Rod Pampling next best in 51st position.
