Saturday 27 June 2015 16:23, UK
Bubba Watson will look to bounce back from his US Open disappointment when he features in this week's Travelers Championship.
The world No 5 suffered his first missed cut of the year at Chambers Bay, posting five bogeys from his first six holes during a second round 77, but has the opportunity to make amends this week as the highest ranked player in a strong field.
Watson claimed his first PGA Tour title at TPC River Highlands in 2010 with a play-off victory over Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank, with the course providing good memories for the 36-year-old as he searches for his first win of the season.
“My whole goal this year was not to miss a cut, and that kind of backfired last week,” Watson said. “Last week I played really nicely. Just the ball bounces one way or ball bounces the other way. Mine chose to bounce the other way. I mean, that's just how it is. That's golf.
“I don't have a win in the calendar year. So I need a win, and I need to make the Presidents Cup team. That would make it a good year.”
“It's a great golf course; it's always in great shape,” Watson added. “As long as the weather is not too windy for us, we can always score around this golf course.
“Hopefully we'll see some red numbers go up by me and just make me feel better and have a good chance on Sunday to go for the win.”
Branden Grace returns to action after being in contention in Seattle last week, holding a share of the final round lead until a wayward tee shot at 16, while fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen heads in to the event buoyed by a back nine of 29 at Chambers Bay to end in a share of second.
“I'll take a lot of positives out of last week,” Oosthuizen said. “After my first round, to be able to even play on the weekend was a lot for me.
“I'll take a lot out of that; just finding my game. I think the way I've come back over the last nine holes last week helped give me a great look at this week.
"It was definitely different, completely different to what we play every week. I want to forget about that golf course for now and focus on this week."
The pair are two of seven players who posted top-15 finishes at last week's major, with Cameron Smith, Brandt Snedeker, Tony Finau, Patrick Reed and Andres Romero all in the field.
FedEx Cup winner Billy Horschel is also contesting an event won last year by Kevin Streelman, who birdied his last seven holes to win by a single shot from Sergio Garcia and KJ Choi.
Horschel was among the fiercest critics of Chambers Bay and took an angry swipe at the sixth green with his putter after missing a short putt during a closing round of 67.
"There are a couple of regrets I had," Horschel admitted. "The actions I showed on green six weren't acceptable. It's not the role model I want to be to millions of young golfers.
"I don't take back my comments that I said on Sunday, not one comment at all, but I do wish I would have done it in a private setting with Mike Davis (USGA executive director) and the USGA staff.
"To air some stuff out in public was not acceptable. I wish I would have done it in more of a private setting."
Watch the Travelers Championship live on Thursday from 8.30pm on Sky Sports 4 – your home of golf.
