CROMWELL, Conn. — Webb Simpson says it never crossed his mind to take the week off after winning the U.S. Open.

Simpson took a red-eye flight home to North Carolina from California on Sunday night and was in Connecticut on Wednesday preparing for the Travelers Championship.

It’s a tournament he says he feels loyal to after receiving a sponsor exemption in 2008.

“I love coming to this town, and I think it’s actually going to be good for me to get back in the ropes and play this week,” Simpson told the larger-than-normal media contingent at TPC River Highlands.

“It’s a great week for me to kind of unwind from the U. S. Open, but be able to kind of put my focus elsewhere and kind of get away from just reflecting and thinking about it and trying to put my focus on trying to win this golf tournament.”