Rose Full of Thorns: Bubba Watson Wins Three-Way Playoff at Travelers

Ben Curtis has almost over taken the lead at The Travelers Championship this afternoon at the TPC River Highlands Course, as Justin Rose is leaking oil like an old Harley Davidson that has seen better days.

We pick up action on the fianl round on Sunday.

Ben Curtis, a former British Open Champion, whose game is peaking just in time for a trip across the pond, is pressuring Rose to make some birdies. Rose has three bogeys on the front nine.

It is hard to gain birdie momentum from a string of bad holes. Most of the time all you can manage is par's after your confidence is dealt a blow.

The greens are quick today, and you must control your distance. Bubba Watson just missed a birdie on 13 and will stay at minus 12.

Rose is at minus 15, Curtis at minus 14, Chris Riley at minus 13, Bubba Watson is at minus 12, and Corey Pavin is playing the back nine currently at minus 12.

Riley had a streak of fives birdies in a row. Padraig Harrington is also at minus 12, so anything can happen on these final 4-5 holes.

Hang on to your pretzel bowl and stay hydrated as the tension builds in Cromwell Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.

Corey Pavin, our 50 year old Ryder Cup Captain, is playing beautifully this week, still at minus 12, and a chance for a win for the old guys. Pavin just birdied to get to minus 13.

Pavin has perfect control at the top of his swing, and can play any shot he needs. Fades, draws, low, high, and carries a four and five wood in the bag.

This course sets up really nice for Pavin at only 6800 yards and par 70.

Scott Verplank just made an eagle from the bunker, and that is his second eagle in three holes. That puts Verplank in a tie for second with Ben Curtis at minus 14.

This is going to get totally crazy as everyone  needs to  score well to have a shot at victory this afternoon.

Verplank now is at the par three 158 yard 16th hole.  He did not hit a very good shot, as it leaked to the edge of the green, 30 feet away.

Chris Riley taps in for a 65 and a good finish. He has only three top 10 finishes in four years, so this is a big boost for his confidence. He is currently tied for fourth at minus 13.

Who knows what could happen as he posts the first low score. could this be a play-off score? He will finish in a tie for fourth as minus 14 will be posted by at least three players.

Justin Rose continues to hang on by the thinnest of threads, as four players ask, "who's got the scissors?"

Saying that, Rose hits his tee shot into the deep stuff on the left of the 12th fairway.

One of my fantasy players this week, Retief Goosen has managed to reach minus 12.

Rose has dropped a shot now and there is a three way tie for the lead at minus 14.

He hacks his way out of the rough, but is in trouble again on 12.

Scott Verplank, now a co leader at minus 14 needs one more birdie.

Ben Curtis's wheels just flew off with a double bogey, and he drops to minus 12 and little chance of making that up in time to win.

Rose just bogeyed as well to drop to minus 13, and all of a sudden Verplank is the leader after starting eight shots back today along with Bubba Watson,loking for his first win on tour at -14 currently.

Our leader is 45 years old and Pavin is right there at age 50. You have to think the short yardage of this course helps the older fella's during the marathon four days of walking. Plus the distance striking the ball,of course.

Not many people had chosen Pavin or Verplank to win this tournament, I am sure.

If you are watching this event, you can't blink without a leader board change right now.

There have been eagles at 13, 14, and 15  today so anything can still happen. Rose is three under for the final day and that will not get it done.

The veteran Verplank certainly has the advantage over the wild and untested Bubba Watson, without a win on the PGA Tour.

Pavin just missed birdie and a share of the lead. Watson has a 12 footer for birdie to take sole possession of first place.

Rose gets birdie on 13 and makes it back to a tie for first place. Three players now share the lead again.

Watson now putts from about 12 feet and makes a birdie on the most dificult hole on the course. He  has the lead by one with two holes to play.

Watson had a little extra wait on the tee, and puts it in the bunker on in the 17th fairway. He has a long shot over water for his second, and perhaos a defining moment in his career.

This is still anyone's  to win, except Justin Rose who just hit a fairwood into the water.

Bubba Watson has also  made this harder with a shot in the water from the bunker, then manages to hit the green with his fourth.

The experienced player, Scott Verplank is bringing this tournament home, while the other less seasoned players crash and burn in various methods of self torture.

Bubba Watson makes double to fall one back at minus 13.

Verplank is in with a 64, and at minus 14, while Rose is throwing away shot after shot.

Pavin has four feet to make par on 18 and also card a minus 14 for the tournament. He makes the putt and is in the clubhouse with a share of ther lead.

\Bubba Watson almost drove the green on 17 with a cart path bounce and has 55 yards for eagle. A birdie is a possibility to grab a share of the lead once more.

Watson can still get a win with a birdie on 18 possibly.

Watson's second shot comes within 4 feet, after a 396 yard, cart path assisted drive.

He should make this putt, to regain a share of the lead. Watson does make that putt, overcoming that double bogey nicely. He is in with minus 14 also.

Ben Curtis bogeys the par three and is pretty much out of the running.

Verplank. Pavin, and Watson all tied for the lead, and a couple other guys trying to get there. Justin Rose does have a birdie try from about 12 feet. He needs birdie, birdie to have a slight chance to win still.

Rose also missed his putt and carded a bogey, having a disastrous Sunday.

We have a three way playoff with Pavin, Verplank, two tour veterans, and Bubba Watson, the younger, and very hungry player looking for that first Tour Victory here at River Highlands.

This, by the way has the longest hitter on tour with Bubba Watson, against the shortest hitter on tour, Corey Pavin. Also Scott Verplank a long time pressure player, who won his first tournament at the Western Open as an ameteur in 1982.

I was watching that day, which just seems weird.

so far this season on the PGA Tour,the International players have 12 wins, and the USA Has 12 also. We get this one. so it's 13-12 now.

The playoff starts with Verplank hitting it right down the middle of the fairway.Pavin is  behind Verplank, about 60 yards, and Watson is  right to the cart path about 320 down the fairway 30 yards past Verplank.

Corey Pavin hits first trying to apply some kind of heat to the younger guys. He could bcome the sixth oldest player ever to win a regular PGA Tour event.

Pavin had 229  yards to the green and put it in the front bumker. Verplank has a six footer to win this thing. Watson hits a sand wedge and it comes to rest two inches from the cup.

Intense pressure now is upon Scott Verplank to keep this playoff going another hole.

Pavin must hole out his bunker shot or he is done for the day and a nice tie for second place for the 50 year old.

Pavin comes up short and left by a yard, and it's just Scott Verplank now, to try and continue the playoff.

It's a six footer that may go just a touch to the right.  Verplank has a big heart and play continues as he drains it down the middle of the cup.

The USA Ryder Cup Captain can only watch now. as two potential Ryder Cup players battle this one out.

It's 6:04 PM and despite weather warnings that made the Metlife Snoopy Blimp depart, the second playoff hole continues at the par three.

Verplank misses the green and  Bubba Watson has a nine iron, choked down and tugged about 50 feet away. Both players have some work for par.

Watson has about as four footer  for par , while Verplank has an eight footer. Verplank played too much break and here we go for watson's first PGA Tour Win.

Watson makes the three foot six inch putt and has a tearful face full of spent emotion and joy as his wife hugs him, and life changes for the Watson family in oh so many ways.

Thanks for tuning in and have a great week as we watch the oil roll in from the Gulf of Mexico here in Florida.

Kevin Costner to the rescue with his wacky water cleaner.

Thomas[NFL Mikee]Moreland