CROMWELL, Conn. -- Bubba Watson made himself right at home in the Travelers Championship -- again.
Watson shot an 8-under-par 62 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the event he won in 2010 for his first PGA Tour title. He has finished in the top 20 five times in eight previous starts at TPC River Highlands.
It was the two-time Masters champion's lowest round in the event.
"It's special," Watson said about the tournament. "It was my first win and it's the same time that I announced to the world that my dad was passing with cancer. So special in different ways."
New England native Keegan Bradley was tied for second with Jason Gore, Seung-Yul Noh, Brian Stuard and Harris English, who shot a 30 on the back nine. Eight players shot 65, and 12 more opened at 66. Ninety-three players were under par in the first round.
Watson, playing late in the day, had four birdies on his final five holes. The two-time Masters champion just missed an eagle on the par-4 18th hole, hitting a 139-yard second shot that bounced into the flagstick and rolled 4 inches past the cup.
His only glitch during that stretch was bogey on the par-3 16th, where he overshot the green, and chipped his second shot past the hole and into the fringe.
Bradley, put up an early 64, shooting a 31 on his front nine. The 29-year-old, who was born in Vermont, is playing his fifth Travelers Championship, which he considers a home tournament. His best finish has been 18th.
English, who did not play in the U.S. Open, had just 22 putts.
Ernie Els is making his first appearance in Connecticut since 2002 and was among those at 66. He said he normally heads to Europe after the U.S. Open to prepare for the British Open, but decided to try to pick up a few more FedEx points this year.
Argentina's Andres Romero won a Rolex watch during his round of 69 when he aced the 177-yard par-3 16th hole. Romero said he grabbed his 7-iron and decided to go for the pin after his caddie translated a sign about the hole-in-one prize next to the tee box.
It was the third hole-in-one of the Romero's career, and he said he now owns seven Rolexes.
Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a 4-under 66 and was tied in a pack for 15th. David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) was at 2-under 68. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot a 1-under 69.
EUROPEAN PGA
3 share BMW lead
MUNICH -- Spain's Rafa Cabrera-Bello overcame two bogeys to shoot a 7-under-par 65 for a three-way share of the lead in the opening round of the BMW International Open on Thursday.
Cabrera-Bello was joined by Lasse Jensen of Denmark, who had seven birdies, and Daniel Gaunt of England, who overcame a bogey with eight birdies of his own on the Eichenried Golf Club course.
Early leader Andrew Johnston of England finished one stroke behind after starting on the 10th hole with a bogey, then carding seven birdies for a 66.
Five players were tied for fifth on 67, including Henrik Stenson, the champion in 2006. The Swede recovered from a triple bogey on the par-4 16th with eight birdies altogether.
"I got off to a pretty good start and I didn't do too much wrong on 16 but wound up with a triple bogey. I hung in there and tried to just keep on going. Then I wrapped up with a nice string of birdies on 5, 6, 7 and 8," said Stenson, who has broken par in 14 consecutive rounds.
James Morrison and Tommy Fleetwood of England, Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, and Victor Riu of France joined Stenson in fifth.
Local favorite and 2014 U.S. Open winner Martin Kaymer made up for a double bogey and two bogeys with four birdies to finish on level par, while two-time winner Thomas Bjorn was one over par after three bogeys.
CHAMPIONS
Cool Watson shoots 66
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Tom Watson took advantage of cooler morning conditions Thursday to shoot a 4-under-par 66, grabbing a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the U.S. Senior Open.
With the temperature soaring over 100 degrees in the afternoon, Watson worked through Del Paso Country Club before the scorching heat intensified in California's capital city. The eight-time major champion overcame a double bogey early in his round and had four birdies in a six-hole stretch after the turn.
Michael Allen, Lee Janzen, Jeff Hart, Jim Carter, P.H. Horgan and Woody Austin shot 67.
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie and Champions Tour stalwart Bernhard Langer, who have won six of the past seven senior majors, teed off in the afternoon heat. Montgomerie shot 68 and Langer 71.
WEB.COM
Power ahead by 1
WICHITA, Kan. -- Seamus Power shot a 7-under-par 63 on Thursday to lead the Air Capital Classic after the first round.
Power has a one-stroke lead over D.H. Lee, Dawie van der Walt, Timothy Madigan and Henrik Norlander at the Crestview Country Club.
At 5-under 65 are Matt Weibring, Adam Crawford and Si Woo Kim. Thirteen players are tied at 4 under, including Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Tag Ridings (Razorbacks).
Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) shot an even-par 70. Zack Fischer (Little Rock) had a 2-over 72 and Glen Day (Little Rock) had a 3-over 73.
Sports on 06/26/2015