U.S. Open winner ready to deal with added attention
Taking a page from the themed pairings devised for the U.S. Open, the Travelers Championship follows suit this week with an interesting grouping of young American stars — Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson.
The players, of course, are the winners of the last three major championships. But a more ominous theme hovers as they tee off Thursday in Cromwell, Conn. Call it “The Hangover III.”
There is a well-documented history of first-time major champions struggling to regain the edge. The most vivid example is David Duval, who said his motivation disappeared after he won the 2001 British Open. Bradley and Watson have faltered on a smaller scale.
| Travelers Championship |
| When » Thursday-Sunday |
| Where » TPC River Highlands, |
| Cromwell, Conn. |
| TV » Golf Channel, CBS |
After capturing the 2011 PGA Championship, Bradley, 26, missed the cut in his next two tournaments and is currently in a slump. Since winning the 2012 Masters, Watson, 33, has missed the cut in two of three events. Now it’s U.S. Open champion Simpson’s turn to avoid the pitfalls, which include increased attention, expectations and financial opportunities.
“It is a concern but a good concern,” Simpson, 26, told reporters. “I’m a people pleaser, so I’m gonna have to get used to saying no, which is tough for my personality.”
Even though it’s common practice for major winners to opt out of tournaments the following week, Simpson couldn’t say no to the Travelers. Simpson said he felt indebted to the tournament, which gave him a sponsor’s exemption in 2008, three weeks after competing for Wake Forest in the NCAA championships and turning pro.
“My wife and I never even talked about not coming,” Simpson said. “I’m probably always gonna come to Travelers.”
However, it appears unlikely Simpson will play in the AT&T National at Congressional next week, though he has until Friday to commit. He said he was looking forward to returning home for an “off week” after the Travelers. It would be the first time since Simpson made the PGA Tour in 2009 that he will skip the event.
After winning Sunday, Simpson said he had heard from former major champions Tom Watson, Greg Norman and Hale Irwin, all with congratulations and advice. Simpson said he planned to print out and frame a few of the emails.
On Thursday, Simpson can seek advice from his major-champion contemporaries, both good friends. In November, Watson was Simpson’s President’s Cup partner. Bradley has been a common playing partner this year. Simpson believes it was Bradley’s caddie who put bananas in his new golf shoes earlier this year.
“The smell’s still in there,” Simpson said. “I’m gonna get him back.”
Watson said he already has imparted some advice to Simpson on how to deal with sudden celebrity, though judging from his post-Masters media tour of New York, Watson perhaps should have added do as I say, not as I do.
“Your agent’s going to have more things for you to do. You just have to be able to say no,” Watson said. “You’re the boss. Your agent works for you.”
