Strong contingent following Overton in Wales

Bubba Watson and Jeff Overton celebrate after birdieing the first hole at Celtic Manor.

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NEWPORT, Wales – Not that there’s an official count, but there’s a good chance Jeff Overton has the most plentiful support group on the American side.

Reportedly, upwards of 20 die-hard Bloomingtonites – as in Bloomington, Ind. – dished out thousands of dollars to purchase seats aboard the team charter that left Atlanta last Sunday evening. It speaks volumes to the kinship Overton feels for Bloomington and the love that is returned by townsfolk.

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That contingent of Hoosiers from Bloomington is in addition to Overton’s girlfriend, Christina Zimmer; his parents, Ron and Sharon; his college coach, Mike Mayer; and those guys in the wild red, white, and blue pants, Kirk Wood and Heath Peters.

Former teammates with Overton at Indiana University, Wood and Peters made the trip to Wales and were beneath umbrellas as their friend birdied the first hole to jump ahead of Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington.

The vibrant and patriotic pants, they said, came via the Loudmouth website, and John Daly contributed a 20 percent discount to the cause.

Ron Overton took a pass on the Loudmouth pants, but not on the chance to walk inside the ropes. Though it meant being ankle-high in mud and soaked to the bones, the father couldn’t have been happier.

“The entire week has been incredible,” he said.

Minutes later, both Overton and Watson knocked it stiff at the par-5 second – Overton missed, Watson made – to give the Americans a 2-up lead. Yes, the rain was coming down sideways, but a loyal group of proud Hoosiers had reason to smile.