Bubba Watson wins in PGA playoff

Associated Press

CROMWELL, Conn.

Bubba Watson won the Travelers Championship for his first PGA Tour title, overcoming a six-stroke deficit and beating Scott Verplank with a par on the second hole of playoff Sunday at TPC River Highlands.

Watson, the long-hitting left-hander from the Florida Panhandle, closed with a 4-under 66 to match Verplank (64) and Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin (66) at 14 under. Pavin dropped out on the first extra hole.

After making a 3-footer on the par-3 16th to win, Watson hugged wife Angie and began crying. He said he was so nervous, he could not feel his arms on the final putt.

“For me to get into a playoff after shooting 4 under was unreal, and to somehow make that par putt to win was unreal,” said Watson, who had the largest comeback on the tour since Padraig Harrington also came from six back to win the 2007 British Open.

Verplank left his tee shot short of the green on the second playoff hole and missed an 8-foot par putt. Watson, who had a 48-footer for birdie, was able to steady his nerves enough to get it close.

The 50-year-old Pavin was eliminated on the first playoff hole after hitting his tee shot just 219 yards (101 yards shorter than Watson) and putting his approach into a bunker short of the 18th green. He chipped to 3 feet, earning a standing ovation.

“The playoff was a little disappointing to me,” he said. “I kind of popped up a three-wood there and left myself in a pretty precarious spot.”

Justin Rose, coming off his first PGA Tour win this month at the Memorial, had a three-stroke lead entering the round. But the 29-year-old Englishman shot a 75 to tie for ninth at 11 under.

“It was obviously my tournament to lose,” Rose said. “I could have shot 1-over par today and won the golf tournament. It’s disappointing. It wasn’t overly difficult today.”