Once again Bubba Watson is creating a lot of attention with his brilliant performance coming out the gate at the Travelers Championship. In 2010 he had capped off a good year by winning this tournament, so he knows how to win on this field. “It’s special,” Watson said about the tournament. “It was my first win and it’s the same time that I announced to the world that my dad was passing with cancer. So, special in different ways.”

Last week Watson had missed the cut at the U.S. Open and was not thrilled by any means, but he was not going to stay in despair after not making the cut, he remained optimistic. “Last week I played really nicely, just the ball bounces one way or the ball bounces the other way,” Watson said Tuesday. “Mine chose to bounce the other way.” “Coming off a U.S. Open, this golf course seems like it’s easier, and we all feel that way,” Watson said. “So the guys that played in the U.S. Open maybe feel better about their game when they get here.”

Watson was on top of his game Thursday! He had carded nine birdies, dropped his lone shot at the par-3 16th and needed just 24 putts to complete his round. Watson shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead.

The one mistake that he had made was a bogey on the par-3 16th, where he overshot the green, and chipped his second shot past the hole and into the fringe. As of right now Watson is attempting to become the fifth golfer to win this tournament since 2000 after leading or being tied for the lead going into the second round.

“I just kept grinding it out,” Watson said.” ”Whatever shot was called for, I tried to hit it and somehow today, I hit it good.”

Bubba Watson hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in...