CROMWELL, Conn. -- US Open winner Webb Simpson, Masters champion Bubba Watson, and reigning PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley have combined for seven birdies on the front nine at TPC River Highlands, making the turn in front of a large gallery during the first round of the Travelers Championship.

Watson has the best score among the three, shooting a front-nine 32, which has him three shots behind the current leader, David Mathis. Simpson had a 34, Bradley a 35. Watson has the only bogey so far, which came on the fourth hole, when he used his putter three times from 20 feet.

They were introduced to huge cheers on No. 1, the pairing together of the past three major champions drawing a healthy crowd to the 12:55 p.m. starting time.

It's been nice to get out of the sun and heat for a few minutes, but onward we go, to the back nine. Time to get back to the course and see how the final nine plays out.

12:20 p.m.: Greetings from the Travelers Championship, where first-day play has begun and we're roughly 30 minutes from the marquee pairing of Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson, and new US Open champion Webb Simpson from starting their first rounds.

The grouping features the last three major champions, since Watson won this year's Masters and Bradley captured the PGA Championship last August. Should be a fun group to watch, with plenty of attention.

Nathan Green is the early leader, shooting a 5-under-par 65 at TPC River Highlands. Will Claxton is also 5 under, through 12 holes, on a warm, humid day, a far cry from the cool conditions at the Olympic Club in San Francisco last week.

James Driscoll, who finished fourth here last year, is 3 under through 14 holes.

Michael Thompson, fresh off his second-place tie at the Olympic Club, has struggled today. He's 7 over par through 15 holes, ahead of only two players from the morning wave of tee times. Patrick Cantlay, making his professional debut here this week, has also stumbled early. He's 5 over through 14.

But today's focus will be on Bradley, Watson, and Simpson. We'll be with them throughout their round, updating on my Twitter account (@GlobeWhitmer), and we'll come in when they make the turn and post a quick update to this blog.