CROMWELL, Conn. -- Bubba Watson was forced to think a bit more Friday at the Travelers Championship, where the wind was a little stronger, the greens a bit firmer and the pin placements more challenging.
The long-hitting lefty shot a 3-under 67 to maintain the two-stroke lead he took with an opening 62.
"[Thursday] I added it up after I left the media center, I had three holes I didn't have a wedge into," he said. "Today was different, because the wind conditions were different. They were faster and it was coming from a different direction, so it made the golf course a little bit tougher."
The two-time Masters champion is trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner at TPC River Highlands since Peter Jacobsen in 2003.
Watson won his first PGA Tour title at the 2010 event and has finished in the top 20 five times in eight previous starts. He tied for sixth in 2008, tied for second in 2012, and finished fourth in 2013.
Brian Harman birdied two of his final three holes during an afternoon round of 65 to join Brian Stuard and Carl Pettersson at 9 under.
Stuard, who followed an opening 64 with a 67, pulled within a shot of Watson after back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16. But he bogeyed the 17th after hitting his second shot over the green and missing an 8-foot par putt. He then saved par on the 18th with a 19-foot putt.
Pettersson, started on the back nine and shot a 31 on those holes, before finishing with a 66.
The back nine was less affected by the wind than the front, where a headwind had several holes playing longer than their yardage.
Scott Brown had a double bogey on his first hole and posted a 38 on the front. But after making par on the 10th, he reeled off six straight birdies to finish with a 67. He was 8 under, tied for fifth place with Jason Gore and Chris Stroud, who is still looking for his first tour victory after losing here in a playoff to Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) in 2013. Duke shot a 2-under 68 (137) on Friday.
Nick Watney had the round of the day, shooting a bogey-free 64, with three birdies on each side of the course. Watney was at 7 under in a group that included New England native Keegan Bradley.
Thirty-three players were within six shots of the lead.
Ernie Els, who shot a 66 in the opening round, bogeyed the first five holes and missed the cut after shooting a 76 to finished 2-over after 36 holes. Els, making his first appearance here since 2002, threw his club into the air in frustration after bogeying the 12th hole and hitting his tee shot on the 13th left and into the water guarding the green.
Others notable names who failed to make the cut include Stewart Cink (139), who has won this tournament twice; defending champion Kevin Streelman; four-time major champion Padraig Harrington (141), 2007 winner Hunter Mahan (141) and Louis Oosthuizen (142).
David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 2-under 68 (136). Bryce Molder (Conway) had a 1-over 71 (137).
EUROPEAN PGA
Cabrera-Bello out front
MUNICH -- Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain shot a 5-under 67 for a one-stroke lead in the second round of the BMW International Open on Friday.
Cabrera-Bello, who opened with a 65 Thursday for a three-way lead with Lasse Jensen of Denmark and Daniel Gaunt of England, made six birdies and a bogey, leaving him at 12-under 132 halfway through the European Tour event.
Jensen (69) dropped two strokes off the pace while Gaunt (73) fell six behind after three birdies were undone by a double bogey on the par-4 16th and two bogeys.
James Morrison of England shot a 66 to move second, ahead of Jensen and Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey, who shot a 65 including nine birdies for the day's best round on the Eichenried Golf Club course.
Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand missed a good birdie chance on the 18th and had to be content with fifth after shooting a 67.
Former winner Pablo Larrazabal of Spain shot a 66 for a share of sixth with compatriot Alejandro Canizares and England's Chris Paisley. All three were four strokes off the pace.
Home favorite and 2014 U.S. Open winner Martin Kaymer missed the 2-under par cut by one stroke with four bogeys in a round of 71.
Four players were tied for ninth on 7-under and 13 were in a group on 8-under, including Sweden's Henrik Stenson, the 2006 champion.
WEB.COM
Vander Walt leads
Dawie vander Walt shot a 3-under 67 on Friday in the second round of the Air Capital Classic, giving him a 9-under 131 and a one-stroke lead over Miguel Carballo.
Seamus Power, the first-round leader, was tied with five others for third at 7-under 133. He had an even-par 70 on Friday at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kan.
Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 1-under 69 (135) while Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) shot a 4-under 66 (136). Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) had a 2-over 72 (138) and Glen Day (Little Rock) shot a 4-over 74 (147).
Sports on 06/27/2015