Bubba Aims For Third Travelers Championship

World number six Bubba Watson is missing the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday as he attempts to win the Travelers Championship again

Bubba Aims For Third Travelers Championship

Bubba Watson defends the Travelers Championship this week at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

The tournament has been pushed back in this strange season for scheduling. It used to be the week after the US Open and now sits the week after the USPGA, directly before the Olympics.

This means that a lot of Olympians are missing, however from the USA team only Rickie Fowler isn't there. Team USA's Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar are all in the field.

Bubba Watson beat Paul Casey in a play-off last year with a birdie on the second extra hole after the pair ended on 16-under-par.

Watson also won in 2010 and revealed that he is missing the Olympics opening ceremony to play in Connecticut.

“It was a no-brainer never to miss (the Travelers). This was never coming off the schedule. We’ve always planned on being here. No matter what happened, I was going to be here. So I’m missing opening ceremonies … so I’m just going to fly in for the golf tournament and then fly out.”

Venue: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut Date: Aug 4-7 Course stats: Par 70, 6,841 yards Purse: $6,600,000 Winner: $1,188,000 Defending Champion: Bubba Watson (-16)

TV Coverage: Thursday 21 – Sky Sports 4HD Friday 22 – Sky Sports 4HD Saturday 23 – Sky Sports 4HD Sunday 24 – Sky Sports 4HD

Player Watch:

Branden Grace - The South African finished T4th at the USPGA after a final round 67 (-3) which could have been better had he not bogeyed the 16th and only parred the two closing par-5s. He's won on the PGA Tour already this year at the RBC Heritage and it's clear he's still on great form.

Bubba Watson - Bubba has won here twice and is missing the Olympics opening ceremony so be sure that he's taking this seriously as he tries to win for a third time. He goes into the week as bookies' favourite and he should do well.

Jon Rahm - The Spaniard came ever-so-close to winning the RBC Canadian Open but his eagle putt on the last just didn't break and went millimetres by the side of the hole. He's already finished T2nd in Canada and T3rd at the Quicken Loans National since turning pro after being low-amateur in the US Open.

Key Hole: 18th. A 524-yard par 5, it’s reachable in two for anybody in the field who gets a decent tee shot away. There’s definitely a possibility of someone recording an eagle three to win the tournament, but with water guarding the front of the green, it’s a risky shot to take on.