Past champion Bubba Watson commits to Travelers Championship
HARTFORD, Conn., March 13, 2018 – A reinvigorated Bubba Watson, who ended a victory drought earlier this year in Los Angeles at the Genesis Open with his 10th PGA Tour victory, will try to keep the good year going when he comes back to a place where he's won twice in his career. The Travelers Championship staff announced today that the Florida native has committed to play in the June 21-24 tournament, played at the popular TPC River Highlands layout in Cromwell, south of Hartford.
In addition to the two Travelers victories, Watson has also finished tied for sixth or better three other times. “Bubba is a fan favorite and seems to be in contention to win here every year,” said the championship's Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “Not only that, but off the course he has always taken a personal interest in things that are important to the tournament, whether it’s visiting The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp or supporting our charitable initiatives.”
Watson’s first PGA TOUR victory came at the 2010 Travelers Championship, when he beat Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank in a playoff. He added a second Travelers Championship title in 2015, also in a playoff, this time against Paul Casey. Watson has won the Masters tournament twice, in 2012 and 2014, the first won in memorable fashion with an escape shot on the 10th hole from the trees in a playoff with Louis Oosthuizen. Watson's victory in the Genesis Open was his third in that historic tournament at Riviera Country Club.
At the 2016 Travelers Championship, Watson made a $100,000 donation to the Bruce Edwards Foundation Benefit Dinner in support of the former Travelers Chairman Jay Fishman. The event raised more than $1.3 million for ALS research. Watson represented the United States in the 2016 Summer Olympics, and he has played in three Ryder Cups (2010, 2012, 2014) and two Presidents Cups (2011, 2015).
The announcement of Watson keeps the heralded commitments coming. Previously, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy had committed to play in the 2018 Travelers. For more information on this year’s tournament, visit TravelersChampionship.com.