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SPORTS Monday 25 June 2018

Bubba Watson shoots 63 to rally for 3rd Travelers title

By PAT EATON-ROBB but from the family side. My shots coming into Sunday,
AP Sports Writer dad, it was the only time he birdied his opening hole.
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — got to see me win (in 2010). But he gave that back on
Bubba Watson says TPC He got to see me qualify for the fifth and had back-to-
River Highlands feels like the Ryder Cup at this event. back bogeys on 16 and 17
home. It certainly was a So all these things just mean to end any chance he had
comfortable place again so much to my family.” of catching Watson.
this week. During the victory ceremo- The Englishman has finished
Watson overcame a six- ny, Watson’s adopted chil- in the top 20 in eight of his
stroke deficit Sunday to win dren — 6-year-old son Ca- last nine tournaments. He
his third Travelers Cham- leb and 3-year-old daugh- was second here during
pionship title, shooting a ter Dakota — received his first visit in 2015, came in
7-under 63 for a three- small trophies of their own. 17th a year later and had
stroke victory. Watson shot a 33 on the a fifth-place finish in Crom-
The left-hander became front nine, but really got it well a year ago.
the first three-time winner going on the back, with five “There was a lot of fight in
on the PGA Tour this season birdies. He tied Casey at there,” Casey said. “But,
and pulled within one of 16-under par by getting up I fought my golf swing all Bubba Watson poses for photos with the trophy after winning
Billy Casper’s tournament and down from the bunker day as you can see com- the Travelers Championship golf tournament, Sunday, June 24,
record of four victories. for a birdie on the course’s ing down the last couple of 2018, in Cromwell, Conn.
He finished at 17-under 263. signature 15th hole. holes.” Associated Press
Third-round leader Paul Still tied on the par-4 18th, Watson also won at Rivera after making birdie on the been a repeat champion
Casey, Stewart Cink, Beau Watson hit his tee shot 366 in Los Angeles in February 15th. “I knew that I needed in Cromwell since Phil Mick-
Hossler and J.B. Holmes tied yards, then pitched inside and the World Golf Cham- three birdies to shoot 59. elson in 2001 and 2002. Spi-
for second. Casey shot 72, 3 feet, giving caddie Ted pionships-Match Play in But quickly, I also remem- eth said he was originally
Cink 62, Hossler 66 and Hol- Scott a big high-five before Austin, Texas, in March. He bered that the golf tourna- planning to take time off
mes 67. taking the lead with the earned $1.26 million for his ment was on the line and until he defends his title at
Watson also came from six putt. 12th career victory. it would mean a lot more the British Open, but may
back to win the 2010 event “Hitting some of those Cink tied the best round of to me to win the Travel- re-evaluate that as he
for his first tour title and beat shots, especially the shot the week with a 62 on Sun- ers Championship than to works on his game.
Casey in a playoff in 2015. on 18, downwind, it was day. The two-time Travel- shoot a 59.” He bogeyed U.S. Open champion Brooks
“I feel like this is my home very difficult, but somehow ers Champion came out 16, but finished the round Koepka shot a 65 to tie for
course,” Watson said. “As pulling it off” Watson said. blazing, opening with three with his 10th birdie. 19th at 9 under. He said his
soon as they put the sched- “And that’s what we all try straight birdies and putting Defending champion Jor- top priority right now is rest,
ule up, I sign up for this. I to do on Sundays is pull off up a 29 on the front nine. dan Spieth, who was tied but said that won’t come
want to come back here. the amazing shot.” He was 7-under through 10 for the lead after the open- until after he attends a
This means so much, not Casey, who shot 65, 67 and and acknowledged think- ing round, shot a 69 to fin- bachelor party for his best
only from the golf side of it, 62 to lead the field by four ing about a sub-60 round ish at 4 under. There hasn’t friend next week.q
England’s Matt Wallace wins BMW International Open by 1 shot

PULHEIM, Germany (AP) — and play well and I want shoot a low score,” Ole-
England’s Matt Wallace to kick on and hopefully sen said. “Obviously as the
shot a 7-under 65 to hold off do this in the bigger events round progressed I kept on
a record-breaking charge from now on.” thinking birdies and trying
from Thorbjorn Olesen and Olesen had played himself to make the round better.
win the BMW International into contention with the Finishing with four birdies
Open on Sunday. lowest round in tournament was pretty nice.
Wallace finished on 10-un- history, with nine birdies ”Wallace turned in 34 but
der 278 — just ahead of and an eagle for an 11-un- then made five birdies in
Olesen, Mikko Korhonen der 61. seven holes from the turn
and 2008 winner Martin It was the lowest round of to edge a shot past Ole-
Kaymer, whose chances his European Tour career sen. He waited as Kaymer
took a blow with a bogey and it gave the Dane a and Korhonen went close
on the 17th hole. three-shot lead before the with rounds of 68 and 67,
“I want to keep building final group had even teed respectively.
on this,” Wallace said after off. England’s Aaron Rai and
his third European Tour win. “I was just trying today to Thorbjorn Olesen waves after a shot during the BMW Open golf Denmark’s Lucas Bjer-
“Obviously this gives me a go out there and build on tournament in Pulheim, Germany, Sunday, June 24, 2018. regaard finished joint-fifth
lot of confidence to go on my game, see if I could Associated Press with rounds of 69.q