In the Bag: Ken Duke

Ken Duke’s journey for silverware on the PGA Tour had lasted 19 years and 186 events before making the 1,280-mile trip from Florida to Connecticut.

So it was only fitting the popular American, who has adopted a career spanning different decades across Canadian Tour, Asian Tour, South American Tour, Web.com Tour and now PGA Tour, should choose to break through for his maiden PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship on Sunday.

The TaylorMade staffer, albeit aided by a Bubba Watson meltdown on the back nine, ousted Chris Stroud at the second extra hole to record his maiden win.

Having racked up three career runner-up finishes, the 44-year-old American finally came good after the former Masters champion squandered his lead on the back nine for a second successive day.

Watson, who was three clear at one stage on Saturday, held a one-shot lead after picking up his fifth birdie of the day at the 15th, only to rack up a triple-bogey at the next hole.

That left Duke, who himself had birdied the 15th, in sole possession of the lead at 12-under and he parred the final three holes only to see closest pursuer Chris Stroud chip-in from off the green for birdie at 18 to force the playoff.

Stroud, also seeking a maiden win, holed out from six-feet to keep his hopes alive but could do little after watching Duke stick his approach to just two feet as they came back down the 18th a second time.

The win clearly meant a great deal to Duke, who has overcome a debilitating back problem to carve out a living on the tour.

“You gotta believe in yourself in everything you do,” said Duke. “It's kind of one of those things once you finally do it, it might come easier the next time. That's kind of the way I feel.

“You have to be patient. You can't make things happen out here. You can't win by pushing everything.

“Any time you win at 44 years of age it’s a special win because at that age they’re writing you off.”

Duke used the TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 driver, fairway and hybrid, as well as TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons and Titleist Pro V1 ball.

He also wore FJ Sport footwear and FJ SciFlex glove. 

What's in Duke's bag

Driver: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 (9.5-degree; Aldila Tour Series TX)
Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 (14.5-degree; Aldila Tour Series)
Hybrid: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 (18.5-degree; Aldila Tour Series)
Irons: TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC (3-PW; Aldila graphite)
Wedges: Akira prototype US-Tour Issue (52-, 58-degree)
Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Newport 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 (2013)
Footwear: FJ Sport
Glove: FJ SciFlex