The Travelers Championship

The tournament has released its celebrity pro-am pairings (.pdf file) for tomorrow, if you want to follow the likes of Jim Calhoun (7:30 a.m. off the first tee) or Ray Allen (7:50, first) or Doug Flutie and Andre Tippett (12:20 p.m., with J.J. Henry) around.

Lee Janzen played a bogey-free round this morning at Gillette Ridge Golf Club in Bloomfield and qualified for this week’s Travelers Championship.

The two-time U.S. Open winner (1993, 1998) birdied the first two holes and was one of four players to post 5-under-par 67s in the qualifier, which he said was his first in a while, aside from British Open and U.S. Open qualifiers.

Tour pros John Merrick and Joe Ogilvie also qualified, as did Chris DeForest, an upstate New York native who just finished up at the University of Illinois. He turned pro in time for last week’s U.S. Open.

DeForest played with Rory McIlroy last week at the Open. Janzen, who fell one stroke short of a playoff at his Open qualifier, said he was watching as McIlroy’s record-setting week let him run away with the tournament.

“I’m happy watching the young guys and learning something,” Janzen said. “I watched Rory play, and he plays with no fear. He looks at the pin, where it is, and he tries to hit it. He’s not clogging up his brain. Personally, I get too much interference.”

There were one or two shots Monday that Janzen didn’t seem to like, but he kept them to a minimum, and we’ll see him later this week.

More from Janzen in tomorrow’s paper and on our Web site.

The Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am, June 22 at the TPC (Wednesday before the real action gets underway) will feature the likes of singer/songwriter Michael Bolton, actor Joe Pesci and actor Luke Wilson. Sportscaster Chris Berman, reality TV and wrestling star Mike “The Miz” Mizanin and UConn basketball coach Jim Calhoun are also slated to play.

Additional fan favorites include Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech, UConn associate head coaches Chris Dailey and George Blaney, and UConn alum Kevin Ollie.

“We greatly appreciate these individuals donating their time to be part of the tournament, to assist us in delivering a world-class sporting event to the fans all while raising funds and awareness for our tournament charities,” Tournament Director Nathan Grube said in a statement. “The Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am has been a staple for our tournament over the years and we are thrilled to welcome these great celebrities who will entertain our fans with exciting golf and evening entertainment.”

Along with the action on the course Wednesday, the tournament will once again welcome WFAN Sports Talk Radio host Mike Francesa for a live broadcast of his show. The show will broadcast from 1-6 p.m. on the clubhouse patio. Following the radio broadcast, the excitement will continue in the Subway Fan Zone with a performance by Eddie Money during the first night of the REACH Concert Series.

Additional celebrity announcements are expected in the next few days.

Tickets are available now at www.TravelersChampionship.com.

Bubba Watson reacts after putting for birdie on the third green during the final round of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., May 1, a tournament he wound up winning. Watson will defend his Travelers Championship victory next month. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The Travelers Championship held its annual media day festivities Tuesday morning. A few of the highlights from defending champion Bubba Watson’s meeting with the media and other items:

(I say meeting with the media but it seems there were as many sponsors and fans asking questions of Bubba as reporters…but I digress.)

– The tournament announced a few new commitments on Tuesday: Ian Poulter, Rickie Fowler, David Toms, Ricky Barnes, Corey Pavin and Trevor Immelman have agreed to play next month.

For Poulter, the world’s 22nd-ranked player, it will be his first appearance in Cromwell.

Fowler is the 2010 PGA Tour rookie of the year and has already made two previous starts at the TPC.

Toms, fresh of his runner-up finish at the Players, is coming to the former GHO for the 10th time.

Among the pros already on board are Anthony Kim, Padraig Harrington, Hunter Mahan, Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and John Daly.

– The tournament announced Tuesday that St. Francis Hospital has becoming a presenting sponsor of the event.

– The tournament is June 23-26, with its $6 million purse and $1.08 million winner’s share.

– Watson picked up his first career victory at last year’s Travelers and has since been one of the hottest players on tour.

Watson, who shot 66 in last year’s final round and won a three-way playoff over Scott Verplank and Corey Pavin, says his mind has been more focused since that win, leading to his better finishes since.

“It was my mind. My mind got where it needs to be,” Watson said.

Now?

“Everything seems like it’s steamrolling in the right direction,” Watson said.

– Watson is now ranked No. 11 in world and is leading the FedEx Cup points race now.

What would Watson do if he won this year.

“I’d quit golf,” Watson joked. “Until that money ran out, then I’d come back.”

– Watson made the U.S. Ryder Cup team last season, but had to beat captain Pavin to get there.

After the second day of last year’s Travelers, Pavin was leading Watson in the tourney.

“He said ‘I can’t pick you if I can beat you,’ ” Watson said.

In the end, however, Watson came out on top.

“It was neat beating a captain but at the same time I didn’t want to make him mad,” Watson said.

– Watson made a few waves recently when he questioned why some of the Tour’s top players spend so much time with swing coaches. Watson, who doesn’t have a coach, mentioned Tiger Woods by name. He wasn’t being derogatory, but noted that Woods dominated before he began tweaking his swing.

“Tiger can have any swing coach he wants. Just like anyone else in the world,” Watson said, explaining the comments. “I just don’t have one.”

And Watson pointed out that he certainly wasn’t saying he’s better than Woods.

“He’s the greatest golfer I’ve ever watched play,” Watson said. “I would never say I’m better than that guy.”

He hasn’t talked to Woods since the comments made news, but doesn’t think it’s a big deal between the two.

“No hard feelings. We’re friends. I’ve played many practice rounds with him,” Watson said.

– Watson was, as usual, wearing his very expensive and exclusive watch. A gift from a sponsor in France, Watson was asked if it was really worth a half-million dollars.

“No,” Watson said. “It cost $526,000.”

“I got it for free, which is good on my part,” Watson said.

– Watson on the two concert performers at this year’s Travelers Championship, Huey Lewis and Eddie Money:

“I have no idea who they are,” the 32-year-old Watson said.

- Neill

Defending champion Bubba Watson made his return to Cromwell this morning for media day at the TPC-River Highlands.

Check back here to the blog for updates, and follow the legendary @elsctpost and myself (@NeillOstrout) for faster details.

- Neill

CROMWELL, CT - JUNE 27: Bubba Watson holds the trophy after winning a three-way two-hole playoff after the final round of the Travelers Championship held at TPC River Highlands on June 27, 2010 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)

CROMWELL — Bubba Watson outlasted Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank in a two-hole playoff to win the 2010 Travelers Championship Sunday at the TPC River Highlands.

This is the 31-year old Watson’s first championship on the PGA Tour. He entered the final round six strokes behind leader Justin Rose. It is the largest comeback on the tour this season and the largest since Padraig Harrington came from six behind to win the 2007 British Open.

Despite a double-bogey on the 17th hole of the final round, Watson birdied the 18th to finish with a 66 pull into a three-way tie with Pavin and Verplank at 14-under for the tournament.

In the first sudden-death playoff at 18, Watson dropped his second shot inches from the pin for an eventual birdie. But Verplank countered with an 8-foot putt to tie. Pavin fell out of contention after hitting his second shot into the right bunker.

Verplank wasn’t so fortunate on 16. He bogeyed the hole, leaving Watson a short putt to win his first PGA Tour title.

Justin Rose, who entered the final round three strokes ahead, shot a 75 and finished three strokes back of the leaders.

This was the 20th playoff in tournament history, with the last coming in 2007 when Hunter Mahan won the title.

Watson is the ninth first-time winner on the tour this year. He earns 800 points and moves to No. 8 in the FedExCup standings.

Corey Pavin falls out of the playoff after Scott Verplank and Bubba Watson birdie the 18th hole. Pavin hit 3-wood off the tee, left it short and put his approach into a right-side bunker. Watson almost holed out his second shot from 128 yards. Verplank sank an 8-foot putt to extend the playoff.

Verplank and Watson head back to the 16th tee.

The last tournament Corey Pavin won doesn’t exist anymore.

Playoff’s on.