The Travelers Championship

The Travelers Championship

TPC River Highlands, CT

Thursday August 4th - Sunday August 7th, 2016

by David Barwise

Photo: wfsb.com

With last weekend marking the final major of the year, it’s time for the pros to cut loose and rip up the quiet unassuming TPC River Highlands.

The Olympics are right around the corner and the Ryder Cup is looming, which means a departure from the serious end of the season – it’s PARTY TIME!!!! After the grinding out of these past two majors, the players attending the Travelers Championship this week will be rewarded with a short, playful course that (should weather permit) invites a golfer to play whichever way they want to.

For the most part, the guys on tour have been playing conservative golf for the past three weeks. But with the “worst” winning score over the last ten years standing at -12 (and the “best” at -22!), a winning score may only be achieved on the front foot. Temper aggression with creativity and you have the makeup for a winner this week. For example, Phil Mickelson (not playing this week) has won here back-to-back and the defending champion, Bubba Watson, has won twice as well. The Floridian is naturally the favourite for this event.

Other big names to watch out for are Zach Johnson who finished 6^th here last year, Branden Grace who has had five top-10 finishes since the Masters, and Matt Kuchar who takes to a Pete Dye course like a duck to water. In many cases, this is a form event and if you’re playing well and you keep to your own game there is opportunity.

Trying to think of smaller names who could win this tournament? Well, if Streelman’s outstanding comeback and victory in 2014 is anything to go by, if the putter is hot then you can do anything. How about Aaron Baddeley? Winner of the Barbasol Championship a few weeks ago and consistently one of the best putters on the tour, the Australian has the experience, form and skill set to surprise.