Still having some US Open hangover? Well, you’re in complete luck as the PGA Tour returns with a bang this week with the 2017 Travelers Championship. The world’s best golfers will lock horns at the famed TPC River Highlands course in Cromwell, Connecticut for a chance to win the $1.224-million top prize.
Can the top trio of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day bounce back from their Erin Hills disappointment? Read on below as we break down this loaded tournament and while you’re at it, you can check out our sleeper picks for this prestigious event.
Favorites – Rory McIlroy (+900) and Jason Day (+1,200)
Forget about their humiliating exits in last week’s U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day remain the men to beat in this week’s Travelers Championship. McIlroy has top-7 finishes in three of his last six PGA Tour starts, including a T4 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last March. It will be interesting to see how the Ulsterman fares in his first appearance here in the Travelers Championship.
Day, on the other hand, already has racked up six top-25s this season, including a runner-up finish at last month’s AT&T Byron Nelson tournament. The Aussie is tops on Tour in strokes gained: around-the-green and that touch will be vital for Day in his quest to conquer the River Highlands course.
High-Value Sleepers – Charley Hoffman (+3,300) and Bubba Watson (+2,200)
One golfer who loves playing here at TPC River Highlands is Charley Hoffman. The San Diego native is 6-for-6 in this course since 2010 with a couple of top-10s. Hoffman is playing some solid golf of late as well, nabbing top-10 finishes in four of his last 13 starts, including a career-best eighth-place showing at the U.S. Open last week. Hoffman tied for fourth in greens hit in that tournament and he will need more of the same for him to contend at the Travelers this week.
Another golfer who’s primed for a huge performance this week is Bubba Watson. He loves playing at TPC River Highlands as evidenced by his tournament victories here in 2010 and 2015. The two-time Masters champion’s scoring average in this event since 2008 is 67.19. Watson may have missed the cut in three of his last five starts but he’s more than capable of turning his season around here in Cromwell.
Long Shot – Ken Duke
One long shot who can definitely spring a surprise this week is Ken Duke. Yes, he has missed the cut in eight of his last 11 PGA Tour starts but Duke has already shown in the past that he has the game to tame TPC River Highlands. The 48-year-old captured this tournament in 2013, prevailing in a playoff against Chris Stroud.
Writer’s Prediction
Charley Hoffman (+3,300) wins the 2017 Travelers Championship.
