Henley can't quite make the move in the Travelers, finishes in tie for sixth

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

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          For three days, No. 13 was a pretty good hole for Russell Henley at The Travelers.

          The Stratford and Georgia grad birdied the hole, so when he teed off on Sunday within a few shots of the lead among a crowded group of contenders, he no doubt had to feel a little confidence.

          But 13 basically all but ended Henley’s chances, with his second bogey of the week slowing his momentum and leading to a tie for sixth, 13 under and four shots back.

          Paul Casey, the leader after three rounds, had a rough Sunday as well, and was among four tied for second after shooting two over.

          Bubba Watson shot his second 63 of the tournament – to go with a 70 and 67 – to win by three strokes and take his third Travelers.

          Watson locked it up with several players still on the course, making for an anticlimactic final hour.

          J.B. Holmes moved into contention early, but struggled late in hopes to force a playoff.       The day was more disappointing for Casey, who started the day with a four-stroke lead over Henley. Casey had one birdie and three bogeys Sunday, the rest pars as the field caught up to him.

          Henley needed a birdie on 18 to finish in a tie with several players for second, but was just right and finished tied with Kevin tway and Brian Harman.

          Henley lost a stroke on 13, with bad timing for only his second bogey of the weekend and on a hole he had birdied in the first three rounds.

          He was just off the green, but had a clear shot only for his putter to stutter and leave him a longer shot than he expected. Then he was just right on a fairly routine par shot.

          That dropped him to three back of Watson and Casey, and still behind Holmes and Cink and now into a tie with Kevin Tway. It may have taken Henley a hole or two to put 13 in the rearview mirror.

          Through the first three rounds, Henley had all pars and one birdie on the final four holes, so he was going to have to be a little aggressive and get some luck on the final four on Sunday.

          Watson then finished his day with a 63 and a one-shot lead over Casey, whose day was one of pars, with one bogey and one birdie through 15, when Watson completed his round.

          J.B. Holmes was a hole ahead of Casey and Henley, and was two strokes back in third with Watson’s score posted. Stewart Cink and Kevin Tway were also in the clubhouse, at three back and four back, Tway tied with Henley and now Beau Hossler.

          Hossler birdied four of his final six holes to jump up among the contenders.

          But four strokes down with three holes left was too much for Henley.