Putting helps Bubba Watson take early lead at TravelersChampionship

William S. Paxton, Special for USA TODAY Sports

7:49 p.m. EDT June 25, 2015

Bubba Watson reacts as he approaches the 18th green in the first round at TPC RiverHighlands.(Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports)

CROMWELL, Conn. -- Bubba Watson found a quick remedy for an agonizing U.S. Open performance-- friendly greens.

The two-time Masters winner went on a birdie binge Thursday afternoon at TPC River Highlands totake a two-shot lead at the Travelers Championship. Watson birdied nine holes en route to shootingan 8-under 62 while five golfers, including New England native Keegan Bradley, sit in second place.

"Before I started the day I was looking at the weather and the weather is favorable for play," saidWatson, who won his first tournament at TPC in 2010. "It was also looking bad for (Friday), so Iwanted to go out there and shoot a pretty good score, so I could somehow struggle tomorrow andstill make the cut."

A week after playing a U.S. Open course, Chambers Bay, that was a nightmare for even the topputters on the PGA Tour, Watson made it look easy with only 23 putts the entire round, including 11one-putt greens. His lone hiccup was a bogey on the par-3 16th, but he recovered with birdies on thefinal two holes.

"I worked on putting hard last week and pretty hard this week," said Watson, who missed eagle onthe 18th after his second shot from the rough rolled up four inches from the cup. "I was trying tofocus on certain things. Last week doesn't really show you how good or bad you are playing, you getbounces one way or the other way.

"For me I knew I was playing well, today showed that."

Bradley, who has not won since the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Aug. 5, 2012, had a hot putterin the morning and shared the lead with Seung-Yul Noh and Brian Stuard. Harris English and JasonGore shot 6-under in the afternoon to join them.

"I made pretty much everything inside 10, 15 feet, which you have to do out here at Travelersbecause the scores are so low," Bradley said. "I putted very well and that kept me going."

The greens were kind to several other big name players, with Ernie Els shooting a 4-under 66. PaulCasey, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed shot 67 while Luke Donald and Brandt Snedeker finished at2-under.

"Holy cow yes - this is great," Casey said about finding the joy of putting again. "When I came inhere Monday a big smile just lit up - there's grass."

For Donald, who was recruited to play TPC by Bradley, plenty is at stake. The former world No. 1

has yet to qualify for next month's British Open at St. Andrews and four spots are available thisweek.

"It would be nice to do it this week and not have to wait until next week or the Scottish Open," hesaid. "It's a nice bonus to have in the back of your mind as a little incentive to play well this week."

If Watson stays hot, it might be hard to catch him on a course where he has thrived. In addition tothe one win, Watson finished tied for second in 2012, fourth in 2013 and tied for sixth in 2008.

"Coming off a U.S. Open, every golf course we play is going to feel easier," he said. "Coming off thatgolf course, it doesn't matter what you shoot, it's hard to make birdies around there. Around hereyou can make birdies.

"You have perfect greens. The greens are running the best I've seen them."

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