CROMWELL, Conn. — Bubba Watson was forced to think a bit more Friday at the Travelers Championship, where the wind was a little stronger, the greens a bit firmer and the pin placements more challenging.

The long-hitting lefty shot a 3-under 67 to maintain the two-stroke lead he took with an opening 62.

“(Thursday) I added it up after I left the media center, I had three holes I didn’t have a wedge into,” he said. “Today was different, because the wind conditions were different. They were faster and it was coming from a different direction, so it made the golf course a little bit tougher.”

The two-time Masters champion is trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner at TPC River Highlands since Peter Jacobsen in 2003.

Watson won his first PGA Tour title at the 2010 event and has finished in the top 20 five times in eight previous starts.

He tied for sixth in 2008, tied for second in 2012, and finished fourth in 2013. He was delayed in talking to the media Friday after being pulled for a random drug test, something he saw as a positive sign.

“I hope I passed it,” he joked. “It’s usually when you’re at the top of the leaderboard they want to drug test you, especially me.”

Brian Harman birdied two of his final three holes during an afternoon round of 65 to join Brian Stuard and Carl Pettersson at 9 under.

Stuard, who followed an opening 64 with a 67, pulled within a shot of Watson after back-to-back birdies on 15 and 16.