Bubba Watson rallies to win in Connecticut – again
CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) Bubba Watson overcame a six-stroke deficit to win his third Travelers Championship title, shooting a 7-under 63 on Sunday for a three-stroke victory at TPC River Highlands.
Watson became the first three-time winner on the PGA Tour this season, and pulled within one of Billy Casper's tournament record of four victories.
Watson finished at 17-under 263. Third-round leader Paul Casey, two-time winner Stewart Cink, Beau Hossler and J.B. Holmes tied for second. Casey shot 72, Cink 62, Hossler 66 and Holmes 67.
Watson also came from six back to win the 2010 event for his first tour title, and beat Casey in a playoff in 2015. The left-hander also won at Rivera in Los Angeles in February and the World Golf Championships-Match Play in Texas in March. He earned $1.26 million for his 12th career victory.
Watson shot a 33 on the front nine, but really got it going on the back, with five birdies. He tied Casey at 16 under by getting up-and-down from the bunker for a birdie on the course's signature 15th hole.
Still tied on the par-4 18th, Watson hit his tee shot 366 yards, then pitched inside 3 feet, giving caddie Ted Scott a big high-five before taking the lead with the putt.
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PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Scott McCarron won the American Family Insurance Championship, closing with an 8-under 64 for a one-stroke victory over hometown player Jerry Kelly.
McCarron birdied Nos. 14-16 and parred the final two for his first victory of the season and seventh in three years on the PGA Tour Champions. He finished at 15-under 201 at University Ridge.
Kelly shot 65, also parring the final two holes.
Fellow Madison player Steve Stricker, the tournament host and first-round leader, had a 65 to tie for third with 2017 champion Fred Couples and Colin Montgomerie.
Couples had a 67, playing alongside McCarron. Montgomerie followed a second-round 72 with a 64.
Second-round leader Esteban Toledo had a 73 to tie for 24th at 8 under.
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LPGA TOUR
ROGERS, Ark. (AP) - Japanese teenager Nasa Hataoka ran away with the NW Arkansas Championship on for her first LPGA Tour title
The 19-year-old Hataoka won by six strokes, closing with an 8-under 63 at Pinnacle Country Club for a tournament-record 21-under 192 total. She broke the mark of 18 under set last year by So Yeon Ryu.
Hataoka won twice late last year on the Japan LPGA and has finished in the top 10 in five of her last six LPGA Tour stars, including a playoff loss last month in the Kingsmill Championship.
Hataoka began the round tied with Minjee Lee for the lead.
Austin Ernst shot a 65 to finish second. Lee and Lexi Thompson topped the group at 13 under.
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EUROPEAN TOUR
PULHEIM, Germany (AP) - England's Matt Wallace shot a 7-under 65 to hold off Thorbjorn Olesen's record-breaking charge in the BMW International Open.
Wallace won his third European Tour title. He finished at 10-under 278 - a stroke ahead of Olesen, Mikko Korhonen and 2008 winner Martin Kaymer.
Olesen played himself into contention with a 61, the lowest round in tournament history. The Danish star had an eagle and nine birdies. Korhonen shot 67, and Kaymer 68.
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WEB.COM TOUR
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Brady Schnell birdied the second hole of a playoff to win the Wichita Open for his first Web.com Tour title.
The 33-year-old former Nebraska player made a 12-footer to beat Brandon Hagy.
Schnell won his 100th tour start, closing with a 4-under 66 to match Hagy and Scott Pinckney at 14-under 266 at Crestview. Hagy finished with a 63, and Pinckney shot 68.
Pinckney was eliminated on the first extra hole.
Schnell earned $112,500.
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OTHER TOURS
MEN
South Africa's Jovan Rebula won the British Amateur at Royal Aberdeen on Saturday, beating Ireland's Robin Dawson 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final. The nephew of Ernie Els, the 20-year-old Rebula earned spots in the British Open next month at Carnoustie and, if still an amateur, the Masters and U.S. Open next year. ... Minchel Choi shot a 2-under 60 to win the Asian Tour's Korea Open and earn a spot in the British Open. The 30-year-old Choi finished at 12-under 272 at Woo Jeong Hills for a two-stroke victory over fellow South Korean player Sanghyun Park. ... Shota Akiyoshi shot an 8-under 64 for a one-stroke victory in the Japanese tour's Dunlop Srizon Fukushina Open. He finished at 20-under 268 at Grandee Nasushirakawa. Narutoshi Yamaoka was second. ... T.T. Crough inaugural Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open in Alberta for his first Mackenzie Tour title. The former Florida Southern beat Zach Wright with a birdie on the second playoff hole. Crouch closed with a 6-under 65 to match Wright (65) and Chris Williams (68) at 23 under. Williams dropped out with a par on the first extra hole. ... Scotland's David Law won the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge for his first European Challenge Tour title. He shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 11 under at Macdonald Spey Valley.
WOMEN
Thailand's Kanyalak Preedasuttijit won the Thailand Championship on her home course at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya. The 20-year-old Thai player shot a 3-under 69 to finish at 15 under, a stroke ahead of 17-year-old South Korean amateur Selin Hyun (65). Preedasuttijit earned spot in the Women's British Open and The Evian Championship. ... Misuzu Narita closed with a 5-under 67 to beat defending champion Ai Suzuki by three strokes in the Japan LPGA's Earth Mondamen Cup. Narita finished at 17-under 271 at Camellia Hills. ... Choi Hye Jin won the Korean LPGA's BC Card Hankyung Ladies Cup, shooting a 3-under 69 for a two-stroke victory. She finished at 14-unded 274 at Island Golf Club. Fellow South Korean players Bae Seon Woo and Lee Hyo Rin tied for second. ... China's Ruixin Liu won the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Michigan, for her first Symetra Tour title. She won by a stroke, closing with a 3-under 69 to finish at 9 under.