Before he heads down to Rio, Bubba Watson will defend his title at this week’s Travelers Championship. Here’s what You Oughta Know.
• Watson won the Travelers in 2010 and 2015. He owns the best scoring average (67.4) in the history of the event. Watson is a nine-time PGA Tour winner, but he has yet to defend a title. Since 2010, Watson’s cumulative score to par (68 under) is 14 strokes better than any other player.
• Watson won his first PGA Tour title at the Travelers in 2010. Since then there have been few players better than Bubba:
Most PGA Tour Wins Since Beginning of 2010
Rory McIlroy: 11
Jason Day: 10
Bubba Watson: 9
Dustin Johnson: 9
• In his last start, Jon Rahm tied for second at the Canadian Open. In six starts since turning pro, Rahm has recorded three top-10s.
• Don’t be surprised if there is a close finish at the Travelers. In the last six years, this tournament has been decided either by one stroke or a playoff:
2015: Bubba Watson (Playoff)
2014: Kevin Streelman (One stroke)
2013: Ken Duke (Playoff)
2012: Marc Leishman (One stroke)
2011: Fredrik Jacobson (One stroke)
2010: Bubba Watson (Playoff)
• Watson’s fellow U.S. teammates Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed are also in the field ahead of the Olympics. This season, only Dustin Johnson has more top-10 finishes than Reed.
Dustin Johnson: 12
Patrick Reed: 9
Jason Day: 9
Matt Kuchar: 9
Rickie Fowler: 7
William McGirt: 7
(Stats provided by the Golf Channel research department)