Despite three PGA Tour wins in 2018, Bubba Watson is looking for more

POTOMAC, Md. — Even after winning for the third time in his last nine starts, Bubba Watson wasn't willing to say it's his best year in golf.

 

And he's right.

 

Watson got the year wrong, though his memory was clear after closing with a 63 to win the Travelers Championship. It was in 2014 that he won at Riviera, held off Jordan Spieth to win the Masters and then closed out the year with a wild finish in Shanghai, where he made double bogey on the 17th hole, holed out a bunker shot for eagle on the 18th hole and won the HSBC Champions in a playoff.

 

MORE: Bubba Watson moves up Ryder Cup standings

 

"The birth of our child was two days later," he said. "Angie was in the hospital with the birth mom. I was in China at that time celebrating a victory, but celebrating a beautiful child that nobody knew about at that moment."

 

The three victories in 2014 included a green jacket from Augusta National, so that raises the stakes.

 

But there's more.

 

Watson also had three runner-up finishes in 2014 at the Phoenix Open, Cadillac Championship at Doral and the BMW Championship. He wound up second on the money list to Rory McIlroy.

 

That's why there's still work left this year, thought he won't complain about the start.

 

Final leaderboard @TravelersChamp:

1. @BubbaWatson, -17
2. @StewartCink, -14
2. @BeauHossler
2. @JBHolmesGolf
2. @Paul_Casey
6. @KevinTway, -13
6. @HarmanBrian
6. @RussHenleyGolf
9. @ChaseSeiffert, -12
9. @B_DeChambeau
9. @AnirbanGolf

Full scores: https://t.co/vZk1d8dmgT pic.twitter.com/JWtcjE4rg5

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2018

 

Watson has lacked the consistency this year. Aside from his three victories, he has only two other top 10s — a tie for fifth at the Masters and a tie for ninth in the Mexico Championship.

 

Dustin Johnson has two victories, along with three finishes in the top three, four more in the top 10 and he has yet to miss the cut.

 

Watson, though, is in a good spot.

 

Along with taking home another trophy, he immediately gave back to the Travelers Championship. Watson donated $200,000 to support "The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp," the primary beneficiary of the tournament. Founded by Paul Newman in 1988, it provides a camp experience for children facing serious illnesses.

 

"Bubba is a tremendous person with a huge heart, and this unbelievable gesture is a demonstration of how much he cares about others," said Andy Bessette, the executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Travelers.

 

This article was written by Doug Ferguson from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.