US TOUR:BUBBA WATSON heads into the John Deere Classic in Illinois today thankful Justin Rose helped him to book a ticket to next week's British Open Championship.
Watson will gear up for St Andrews at TPC Deere Run in Illinois, where he will vie with defending champion Steve Stricker, former US Masters winner Zach Johnson and Players champion Tim Clark.
The form of Rose, meanwhile, is the reason the big-hitting American will be heading to Scotland.
Rose’s victory at the ATT National in Philadelphia last Sunday saw the Englishman top a special PGA Tour money list and earn a spot at St Andrews.
Rose’s success also ensured Watson finished second on that list to take the other available spot, thanks in large part to his maiden PGA Tour title at the previous week’s Travelers Championship.
Having won in Hartford, Connecticut, Watson had scheduled to take the next week off and so had to watch and wait to see where he would finish in the six-event money list, having missed out on international qualifying when he lost a play-off in Texas.
“I was rooting for him,” Watson said of Rose at the ATT National. “I was like his parents. I was wanting him to win.
“I didn’t think anything of the special money list until I won (the Travelers) and then I saw that I was number two. So we started looking at it.”
For his part, Johnson said he felt at home at the John Deere Classic and hoped to build his case for a Ryder Cup berth at this week’s US PGA Tour stop.
“It’s always great to be back,” Johnson said in Silvis, Illinois, not far from his Iowa hometown of Cedar Rapids.
“It’s like going to a nice restaurant. You just never get a bad bite. That’s kind of the way I feel about this place. I’ve never had a bad experience.”
Johnson, who finished second here last year and is on the tournament board of directors, is 17th in the US Ryder Cup standings. Only the top eight points leaders following the US PGA Championship in August get automatic berths.
US captain Corey Pavin will announce four additional selections on September 7th.
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC
Course:TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois, 230km west of Chicago.
Length:7,268 yards (6,646m). Par: 71.
Prizemoney:€3.5 million (€627,000 for the winner)
Layout:A stadium course co-designed by DA Weibring. The three par fives are reachable, so expect plenty of birdies.
Defending champion:Steve Stricker won by three.
On TV:Sky Sports, Red button today and tomorrow.
Weather forecast:Warm, temperatures around 30 degrees, meaning strong chance of afternoon thunderstorms throughout weekend.
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