There’s no let-up for the PGA Tour’s top golfers it seems and a week on from the US Open, the good and the great gather once more for the latest designated event - the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Scottie Scheffler, who never has a bad week, heads the market at 13/2 while Rory McIlroy goes again after his near-miss at Los Angeles Country Club.
Xander Schauffele equalled the lowest round in Major championship history with a first-round 62 in LA and he’s the defending champion here.
That came after a dramatic victory 12 months ago when he won by a shot from Sahith Theegala having been one behind teeing off at 18.
The course, TPC River Highlands, is notable for being one of the very few on the PGA Tour that measures under 7,000 yards.
The Pete Dye design plays just 6,852 yards and is a par 70. The greens are Poa Annua.
Four of the last five winning scores here were between 17-under and 19-under inclusive, the exception coming in 2021 when another of last week’s US Open contenders, Harris English, won with 13-under.
Nine of the last 10 winners were Americans so this has been a good event for the home players. The exception was Scotland's Russell Knox in 2016.
Patrick Cantlay, who once shot a 60 here, says of the course: “I think it rewards driving the ball in the fairway and if you can do that you can make a lot of birdies.
“It usually holds its own, despite being a shorter golf course and having some reachable par-5s and a reachable par-4.”
Angles to consider
1/ Strokes Gained Tee To Green
Each of the last eight champions have ranked in the top eight for SG: Tee To Green. That’s a contrast to the SG: Putting stats of those winners which include 41st, 30th, 28th and 18th.
2/ Par 4s
It’s logical that performance on the par 4s counts for plenty given that there are two more than usual given that this is a par 70. But the numbers really are remarkable. Last year, five players shot double digits under par on the par 4s. They finished 1st, tied second, tied second and fifth. Prior to that, seven of the last eight leaders on the par 4s won the tournament.
3/ US Open performance
This event has followed the US Open for the last 13 years. The last quartet of Travelers winners had played well in that major a week earlier, all four making the top 20 and two coming here off third places.
Selections
The above angles have been used to create a shortlist from which the following players are selected.
Viktor Hovland
The Norwegian never got a blow in at the US Open but the fact that he can finish 19th and still feel disappointed shows how high expectation levels have risen. Before that he’d won the Memorial and, looking at the stats, he ranks 11th for Strokes Gained: Tee To Green this season and 9th in Par 4 Scoring.
Tom Kim
Already a two-time PGA Tour winner, Kim enjoyed an excellent US Open when recovering from an opening 73 to finish in a tie for eighth. It’s his debut here but the shorter yardage will suit him and he ranks 23rd for SG: Tee To Green this season and 14th for Par 4 Scoring.
Austin Eckroat
The 24-year-old from Oklahoma is really starting to make a name for himself. A runner-up at the Byron Nelson, he added 16th at Colonial and played some more excellent golf to finish tied 10th in the US Open. He ranks in the top 20 for Par 4 Scoring and was 4th for SG: Tee To Green at Los Angeles Country Club last week.
Tips 0-3; -6.00pts
1.5pts e.w. Viktor Hovland at 18/1 (Skybet, Betfair, Paddy Power, Hills, 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 29th
1pt e.w. Tom Kim at 33/1 (Skybet 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 38th
0.5pts e.w. Austin Eckroat at 100/1 (Betfair, Paddy Power 1/5 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8) 24th
