Sunday 28 June 2015 18:40, UK
Bubba Watson bounced back from his US Open disappointment by firing a eight-under 62 to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Travelers Championship.
The world No 5, who missed the cut at Chambers Bay after firing a second round 77, struck nine birdies in an impressive opening round at TPC River Highlands, with his sole blemish coming after missing the green off the 16th tee and leaving his putt from the fringe fractionally short.
Watson almost closed with an eagle when his 140-yard approach shot at the par-four last bounced off the flag stick and stopped alongside the hole, leaving a tap-in birdie to go two clear of a chasing group that includes Keegan Bradley and Harris English.
The two-time Masters champion was driving the ball an average of just over 325 yards on Thursday and admitted that his distance was proving a big help in moving up the leaderboard.
"If I drive it halfway decent, I'm going to have short irons, I'm going to have wedges," he told Sky Sports 4. "I think we counted up around five holes that aren't wedges, so that means if my wedges are halfway decent I'm going to
have a lot of birdie putts."
Seung-Yul Noh, Brian Stuard and Jason Gore complete the five-way tie two strokes back, with Zach Johnson recovering from a slow start to post a back-nine of 30 and join the bunched group three off the lead.
Scoring with the putter was significantly better than last week in Seattle, with Bradley, who recorded seven birdies in his round, admitting that playing on lush greens made a big difference.
"I made some real good putts on the back, which was my front side, that kind of kept it going," Bradley said. "The greens are perfect any week but especially coming from last week, it seems so easy to make putts.
"If you feel like you get it on line, it's going to go in."
Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington were among the group carding first round 66s, while a huge pack at three under included Paul Casey, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and Billy Horschel.
Last week’s US Open runner Louis Oosthuizen played all bar one of the holes in regulation, ending the day one over after a two-putt bogey at the ninth, as compatriot Branden Grace carded four birdies in the back nine to close with a 67.
Defending champion Kevin Streelman recovered from finding the water and running up a double-bogey at the 17th to card an opening round 69, with Andres Romero nailing his tee-shot at the 176-yard 16th with a seven iron to also finish one under.
Watch the second round of the Travelers Championship live on Friday from 8.30pm on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf
