2018 Travelers Championship Preview

2018 Travelers Championship Preview

Dates: June 21-24, 2018
Where: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.
Par/Yards: 35-35–70/6,841 yards
Field: 156
2017 champion: Jordan Spieth
Purse: $7,000,000/$1,260,000
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Website: www.travelerschampionship.com
Facebook:   travelerschampionship
Twitter: @TravelersChamp

 

2017 Final-Round Leaderboard

Jordan Spieth               63-69-66-70—268 (-12)*

Daniel Berger               68-67-66-67—268 (-12)

Charley Hoffman          69-67-68-66—270 (-10)

Danny Lee                    68-67-68-67—270 (-10)

*won with a birdie on the first hole of sudden death

 

The playoff at the 2017 Travelers Championship marked the 23rd in tournament history.

 

A glance at the field:

• Seven of the top 10 in the FedExCup standings: Justin Thomas (2), Jason Day (4), Bryson DeChambeau (5), Patrick Reed (6), Patton Kizzire (8), Webb Simpson (9), Bubba Watson (10).
• Five of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking: Justin Thomas (2), Brooks Koepka (4), Jordan Spieth (5), Rory McIlroy (7), Jason Day (9).
• Six players with double-digit PGA TOUR wins: Jim Furyk (17), Rory McIlroy (14), Zach Johnson (12), Jason Day (12), Jordan Spieth (11), Bubba Watson (11).
• Nine past champions of the Travelers Championship: Jordan Spieth (2017), Russell Knox (2016), Bubba Watson (2015 & 2010), Kevin Streelman (2014), Ken Duke (2013), Marc Leishman (2012), Stewart Cink (2008), Hunter Mahan (2007) and J.J. Henry (2006).
• 18 of the 25 players who have won titles in the 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season are scheduled to

 

Travelers Championship and the FedEx Cup

With the FedExCup Playoffs just nine weeks away, the Travelers Championship will once again play a pivotal role in players vying to make the Playoffs.

• All 11 winners of the Travelers Championship in the FedExCup era qualified for the Playoffs with eight advancing to the Playoffs finale, the TOUR Championship in
• There are seven past FedExCup champions in the field: Justin Thomas (2017), Rory McIlroy (2016), Jordan Spieth (2015), Billy Horschel (2014), Brandt Snedeker (2012), Bill Haas (2011) and Jim Furyk (2010).
• Seven of the top 10 in the FedExCup standings: Justin Thomas (2), Jason Day (4), Bryson DeChambeau (5), Patrick Reed (6), Patton Kizzire (8), Webb Simpson (9), Bubba Watson (10).
• Name-brand players in the Travelers Championship field needing to finish strong to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs include former FedExCup champions Brandt Snedeker (106) and Bill Haas (134) along with Graeme McDowell (137), Jim Furyk (154) and Padraig Harrington (216).

 

How Jordan Spieth won the 2017 Travelers Championship

Beginning the final round with a one-stroke lead over Boo Weekley at 12-under 198, Jordan Spieth’s even-par 70, coupled with Daniel Berger’s 3-under 67, resulted in sudden death between the two at 12-under 268. On the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, Spieth holed a greenside bunker shot for birdie. With Berger unable to match Spieth’s birdie,    Spieth emerged victorious in his first Travelers Championship start. With the win, Spieth collected his 10th career PGA TOUR title in his 120th  start at the age of 23 years, 10 months, 29 days. Spieth joined Tiger Woods as the only players  in the modern era with 10 PGA TOUR wins by the age of 24. Woods had 15 before he turned 24. Spieth won The    Open Championship later in the summer and currently owns 11 PGA TOUR titles.

 

More on Jordan Spieth (No. 38 FedExCup)

• Win at the 2017 Travelers Championship marked the first time he has won a tournament in his first start at that
• Fourth player to win the Travelers Championship in his first start; Ted Kroll/1952 (first year of event), Sam Snead/1955 and Phil Blackmar/1985.
• First-round 63 in the 2017 Travelers Championship marks his lowest opening-round score on the PGA TOUR (143 career starts)

 

Additional Player Notes

Brooks Koepka (No. 13 FedExCup)

• Move over, Curtis. With his win last week at the U.S. Open, Brooks Koepka became the first back-to-back winner of the U.S. Open since Curtis Strange (1988-89). With the win, Koepka moved to No. 13 in the FedExCup
• Moved from 46 to No. 13 in the FedExCup standings with his win at Shinnecock Hills GC.
• Makes third start at Travelers Championship (2016/T9, 2014/T51).
• Scoring average at TPC River Highlands is 68.38. Low round is 64 (R3/2016).

 

Jason Day (No. 4 FedExCup)

• Making fourth appearance at Travelers Championship (2017/MC, 2014/T18, 2008/T27).
• Six of 10 rounds at TPC River Highlands in the
• With victories at Farmers Insurance Open and Wells Fargo Championship, one of six multiple winners on PGA TOUR this season (Patton Kizzire, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson).

 

Rory McIlroy (No. 35 FedExCup)

• Only previous appearance at Travelers Championship was a T17 in 2017 (67-73-70-64).
• Four-time major champion won his 14th PGA TOUR title at 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.

 

Justin Thomas (No. 2 FedExCup)

• Makes fifth start at Travelers Championship (2017/MC, 2016/T3, 2015/MC, 2013/T30).
• Final-round 62 in 2016 is low score in 12 trips around TPC River
• With victories at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES and The Honda Classic, one of six multiple winners on PGA TOUR this season (Patton Kizzire, Bubba Watson, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson). Both titles were won in playoffs. Also lost a playoff to Phil Mickelson at 2018 World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship.

 

Patrick Reed (No. 6 FedExCup)

• Claimed first major title with victory at 2018 Masters
• Finished fourth last week at the S. Open in an attempt to win the first two legs of the Grand Slam.
• Since 2000, is the fourth current Masters champion to compete at Travelers Championship, and first since Bubba Watson in 2014.
• Makes seventh appearance at Travelers Championship. Best results have come in two most recent starts – T5 in 2017 and T11 in 2016 – firing final-round 66 on both

 

Bryson DeChambeau (No. 5 FedExCup)

• Won three-man playoff to claim second career PGA TOUR title at the Memorial Tournament in 2018. First title came at 2017 John Deere
• Six top-10 finishes in 2017-18 includes win at Memorial, second at Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, T3 at the RBC Heritage and fourth at the Wells Fargo
• Makes third start at Travelers Championship (T27/2017, T47/2016).

 

Bubba Watson (No. 10 FedExCup)

• First of 11 PGA TOUR career wins came at Travelers Championship in
• With wins in 2010 and 2015, one of seven players with multiple wins at Travelers Championship – Billy Casper (4), Arnold Palmer (2), Paul Azinger (2), Phil Mickelson (2), Peter Jacobsen (2), Stewart Cink (2).
• Accumulated five top-10 finishes in 11 appearances at Travelers Championship (Won/2015, 4th/2013, T2/2012, Won/2010, T6/2008).
• 35 of 40 rounds played at Travelers Championship are par or better, with zero over-par rounds on the weekend.
• With victories at Genesis Open and World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, one of six multiple winners on PGA TOUR this season (Patton Kizzire, Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson).

 

Webb Simpson (No. 9 FedExCup)

• Won THE PLAYERS this season for his fifth PGA TOUR
• Finished T10 at the U.S. Open last
• Makes ninth appearance at Travelers Championship, having made the cut in each of previous eight starts with two top-10 results (T8/2017, T5/2013).

 

Xander Schauffele (No. 38 FedExCup)

• Finished T14 in lone appearance at Travelers Championship in 2017 (66-70-70-67).
• Voted by peers as 2016-17 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year after victories at The Greenbrier Classic and TOUR Championship last
• One of 11 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year award winners in the field this week (Emiliano Grillo/2016, Daniel Berger/2015, Chesson Hadley/2014, Jordan Spieth/2013, John Huh/2012, Keegan Bradley/2011, Marc Leishman/2009, Brandt Snedeker/2007, Jonathan Byrd/2002, Stewart Cink/1997).

 

Young Stars

The Travelers Championship has a long history of awarding sponsor exemptions to up-and-coming players. Since   2007, top players like Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Kyle Stanley, Morgan Hoffmann, Patrick Cantlay, Patrick   Rodgers, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and more have been granted exemptions by the   tournament. This year’s exemptions include Doug Ghim (University of Texas) who won the 2018 Ben Hogan Award as the leading male college golfer, Dylan Myer (University of Illinois) who made the cut last week at the U.S. Open and   Nick Hardy (University of Illinois). More on those three below:

 

Doug Ghim

• Former University of Texas golfer finished runner-up in the 2017 U.S. Amateur to Doc Redman at the 37th
• Was No. 1 -ranked amateur in the world before making debut as a professional at Travelers Championship, his third PGA TOUR start (2018 Masters Tournament/T50, 2018 U.S. Open/MC).
• Was the only amateur to advance to the weekend at the 2018 Masters Tournament, finishing T50 with rounds of 72- 76-74-74 to win the Silver Cup as low amateur. After making two eagles in the opening round (Nos. 15 and 18), added a third for the week with an eagle at No. 15 in the third round to claim three sets of crystal glasses and lead   the field with the most On the par-4 18th hole at Augusta National, recorded a 2, 4, 5 and 3.
• 22-year-old was recipient of the 2018 Ben Hogan Award as the leading male college

 

Dylan Meyer

• Made the cut in first start as a professional at the 2018 U.S.
• Former University of Illinois standout finished T63 with rounds of 69-69-75-67 in the 2017 Web.com Tour’s Land of Lincoln Championship in Springfield,
• The 2017 John Deere Classic (MC) marked his PGA TOUR debut. The 2018 Valspar Championship (T74) was his second PGA TOUR
• In 2017, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine, and was required to remain in bed as they administered him medicine intravenously. Meyer’s University of Illinois teammate and friend, Nick Hardy, visited Meyer every day in the hospital. The day after Meyer was released from the hospital, he made the trip with his team to regionals. He had played just one round between then and the Big Ten Championship, which he won – his third straight win of the year – despite feeling the initial effects of his UC. He struggled to keep his focus and finished T28, his worst finish of the Meyer thought he had let the team down, but his teammates rallied around him, and Illinois ended up third, clinching a spot in its 10th straight NCAA Championship.
• Is required to undergo medicinal treatments every eight weeks for the rest of his life.

 

Nick Hardy

• Travelers Championship will be his fourth appearance on the PGA TOUR, but first as a
• Former University of Illinois golfer recently turned professional and made his debut at the 2018 Rust-Oleum Championship on the Web.com Tour, finishing T33 with rounds of 72-67-72-70.
• As an amateur, qualified for the 2015 U.S. Open where he bogeyed his final hole during the second round at Chambers Bay and moved the cut line to +5, allowing 15 additional players earned entry into the third round, including Ángel Cabrera, Sergio García, Colin Montgomerie, Webb Simpson, and Jimmy Walker. He eventually finished T52 in the
• Also qualified for the 2016 U.S. Open after earning medalist honors at his sectional qualifying site but missed the cut in the

 

Miscellaneous Travelers Championship Notes

• Six of the last 12 winners of the Travelers Championship have been first-time TOUR champions: J.J. Henry (2006), Hunter Mahan (2007), Bubba Watson (2010), Fredrik Jacobson (2011), Marc Leishman (2012) and Ken Duke (2013).
• A total of 17 players have picked up their first TOUR win at the Travelers Championship: Ken Duke (2013), Marc Leishman (2012), Fredrik Jacobson (2011), Bubba Watson (2010), Hunter Mahan (2007), J.J. Henry (2006), Brent Geiberger (1999), Olin Browne (1998), Stewart Cink (1997), Billy Ray Brown (1991), Mark Brooks (1988), Mac O’Grady (1986), Phil Blackmar (1985), Tim Norris (1982), Don Bies (1975), Charles Sifford (1967) and Bob Toski (1953).
• Seven of the past 14 outcomes at TPC River Highlands have been decided through a playoff (2017-Jordan Spieth, 2015-Bubba Watson, 2013-Ken Duke, 2010-Bubba Watson, 2007-Hunter Mahan, 2005-Brad Faxon, 2004-Woody Austin).
• Past champions include Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson and Greg
• The best opening 36-hole score at the Travelers Championship was set by Justin Rose in 2010 (126, finished T9).
• The best opening 54-hole score at the Travelers Championship is a 193 held by Tim Norris (1982/1st) and Mark Calcavecchia (2000/2nd).
• The best 72-hole score at the Travelers Championship is 258 held by Kenny Perry (2009).
• The largest come-from-behind win is seven strokes by Brad Faxon in 2005. Marc Leishman came back from six stokes to win in

 

Travelers Championship and Charity

The Travelers Championship is proud to be a PGA TOUR event, which donates 100 percent of net proceeds to charity every year. Since 1952, the tournament has generated more than $38 million for charity.

• The primary beneficiary of the 2018 tournament will be the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut. Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides “a different kind of healing” to more than 250,000 seriously ill children and family members annually – all completely free of charge. For many of these children and families, Hole in the Wall provides multiple Camp experiences throughout the
• Birdies for Charity is a giving platform that utilizes the excitement around the Travelers Championship to help nonprofits in communities across the region raise awareness and funds to support their missions. Nonprofit organizations simply solicit donations and receive a 15% bonus on every dollar

The Chip-In for Charity program allows an individual or group to sell general admission tickets to the 2018 Travelers Championship for $30, a 38% discount off the gate ticket price. Ticket buyers obtain a discounted ticket and the organization raises $15 per ticket sold