Wow! What a finish at Chambers Bay for the 2015 US Open. Jordan Spieth won his second consecutive major championship and is half way to the Grand Slam. Dustin Johnson was 12 feet from beating Spieth but a three putt cost him the opportunity. Despite the flurry of information and discussion, the PGA Tour moves on. It is Travelers week so let the fun begin.
Seven of the world’s top-30 will be here including previous champions Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia. The Travelers has a history of providing a venue for players to capture their first tour victories. In fact if you look at the last eight years five of the winners have been first timers including Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan.
The 72-hole record at the Travelers is 258 shot by Kenny Perry in 2009. Tommy Bolt 1954 and Patrick Cantlay in 2011 have the low 18 round firing 60 however, only Cantlay has done it at TPC River Highlands. Do you remember any great moments from the Travelers? This video shows you some of the memorable moments in the history of the event to jar your memory.
Dates: June 25-28 2015
Course: TPC River Highlands
Stats: 6,841 Yard, Par 70
Television Broadcast Coverage (Times):
Thursday: Golf Channel 3:30 – 6:30 PM ET
Friday: Golf Channel 3:30 – 6:30 PM ET
Saturday: Golf Channel 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET, CBS 3:00 – 6:00 PM ET
Sunday: Golf Channel 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET, CBS 3:00 – 6:00 PM ET
Purse: $6.4 million total purse, $1.152 Winner’s Share
2015 Travelers Championship Predictions, Picks, Key Holes at TPC River Highlands Breakdown
Since the 1920s golf has had a home at the TPC River Highlands but the track has been through three different iterations throughout the last 90 years. Pete Dye put his stamp on the course in 1982 with Roger Maltbie and Howard Twitty leading the final upgrade of the course in 1989. While this course is not considered the hardest on tour, there are a few holes that will test the players and impact the winner come Sunday afternoon.
Coming out of the gate at the Travelers Championship can be fairly benign but when players step on the tee of the par-4, 460 yard fourth hole that all changes. There is often a prevailing wind here that will challenge the players. While a dry hole, there are some strategically placed bunkers down the left and right side of the fairway sure to suck in a drive or two throughout the week. If players navigate the tee shot correctly, they are faced with an approach to a severely sloping green that will make hitting a back pin placement a challenge.
On the heels of the fourth hole is the 223 yard, par-3 fifth hole. It will require a long straight tee ball with carefully planning. This green also slopes severely from back to front requiring players to keep the ball below the hole at all times.
Once players reach the tee at 17 they will be attempting to hold on to any birdies they made throughout the round. It will play as a 420 yard, par-4 with a lake just waiting to submerge any ball hit right off the tee. Players who avoid the water could be faced with a challenging fairway bunker shot or a nasty side hill lie down the left side of the fairway. The green complex and lake right will come into play as the players attempt to pair accuracy and distance into a challenging putting surface. Par is always a good score on 17.
18 is a worthy finishing hole that can present any score from birdie to double bogey without any guilt. The 18th is a 444 yard, par-4 that does not provide a flat stance anywhere. If players stripe a drive they will be forced into an uneven lie made possible by the undulations throughout the finishing hole. If they are slightly off either left or right they run the risk of finding fairway bunkers which could provide the most even stance on the hole. Add in the swale around the green and the greenside bunker and finishing with a par will be a great score.
2015 Travelers Championship Predictions, Picks, Key Holes at TPC River Highlands Top Picks
A full field will be at TPC River Highlands for the 2015 Travelers Championship. Attempting to pick a winner out of a full field event is a lot like a needle in a haystack. It’s time for the 2015 Travelers Championship Predictions, Picks, Key Holes at TPC River Highlands Top Picks.
| Player | Remarks |
| Bubba Watson | The highest ranking player in this weeks field, Watson is poised to put on a good showing this week. Looking back to 2008 Bubba has a fourth place finish in 2013, a tie for second in 2012, tie for 14th in 2009, tie for sixth in 2008 and his first victory in 2010. The key is if Bubba can find his pre-Masters form which showed him win the HSBC Champions and finish runner-up at the Cadillac. This field should help him rebound for the rest of the season. |
| Hunter Mahan | He has previous success at TPC River Highlands with an top-25 in 2013, 11th place finish in 2012, fourth in 2009, second in 2008 and a victory in 2007. 2015 has not been his best year with his last top-10 at the Masters. But if his 68-64 start at the Byron Nelson to back means anything then this less that heavy field could prove a way for Mahan to regain form at a course where he is comfortable. |
| Keegan Bradley | Seven top-25s and three top-10s in 2015 is a solid year even without a win. He has showed improvement at this venue improving a tie for 63rd in 2011 to a 29th place finish in 2012 to a tie for 18th in 2013 before a setback (while still making the cut in 2014). Look for him to step forward at a course that will suite his eye this week. |
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