Quick look at the Travelers Championship

THE OVERVIEW CROMWELL, Conn. – Last week was about survival. This week at the Travelers Championship? “It’s guns blazing,� Patrick Reed said Wednesday. “Everyone is going to be firing at flags.� For those who spent the week – or maybe just a couple of rounds before an early exit – at the U.S. Open, an immediate visit to TPC River Highlands no doubt will be a welcomed relief, a chance to flex the scoring muscles. Having to give up the chase for birdies at Shinnecock Hills for most of the week, players can now return to regular PGA TOUR attack mode. Since 1994, every winner of the Travelers has finished double-digits under par, with three of those winners finishing at 20 under or better. During that same span, just three U.S. Open winners have reached double digits. Nine winners, in fact, have been at even par or worse. That includes last week’s champ Brooks Koepka, who won his second straight U.S. Open title by shooting 1 over (after finishing a record-tying 16 under the previous year at Erin Hills in a rare offensive U.S. Open explosion). “Sometimes having a tournament right after a major doesn’t help but having this tournament right after the tournament last week, I think it gets guys back into their normal routines,� said Rory McIlroy, making his second start at the Travelers. “They play a golf course which if you can make birdies, you can get on runs. That’s a nice thing.� Most U.S. Open courses are long – Shinnecock Hills was 7,440 yards and Erin Hills maxed out at 7,800. Meanwhile, TPC River Highlands measures just 6,841, giving players a chance to hit significantly shorter irons into pins. Throw in the drivable par-4 15th, and it’s a vastly different approach this week. But that also creates a different mindset. Knowing there are more scoring opportunities, players will feel the pressure of keeping up instead of just hanging on. Defending champ Jordan Spieth will be careful not to fall into the trap of always flooring the accelerated. “I understand you can shoot low scores,� Spieth said, “but over the course of four rounds, you’ve got to just wait and let the golf course give you what it does.� Added Justin Thomas: “It’s still golf. Whether it’s even par or 12 under or 25 under, you’re just trying to shoot as low as you can. It definitely is different, and a little less exhausting at the end of the day.� Plus, it’s just nice to look at some red numbers on the scorecards. Said McIlroy: “Obviously it makes you feel a bit better about yourself when you’re shooting some under-par scores.� THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER Brooks Koepka Becomes the first U.S. Open champ since Justin Rose in 2013 to play the following week immediately after winning. Jordan Spieth Turned around his season a year ago by winning at TPC River Highlands. Could use a similar boost this year. Bubba Watson Only four-time winner Billy Casper has won this event more than twice. Bubba could notch his third this week. THE FLYOVER Of the 50 closing holes last season, the 444-yard par-4 18th at TPC River Highlands ranked 19th in difficulty, playing to a stroke average of 4.107. Obviously, it can produce some drama – witness Jordan Spieth’s hole-out from the front greenside bunker to beat Daniel Berger in a playoff last year. And don’t forget the plaque as you walk back toward the clubhouse that celebrates Jim Furyk’s historic 58 two years ago. LANDING ZONE Say hello to one of the PGA TOUR’s shortest par 4s, the 296-yard 15th hole. Only the 288-yard 16th at Sheshan International is shorter. At this length, there’s not much decision on whether to go for the green – 95.3 percent of all tee shots at 15th qualified for the definition of going for it. Still, there is water to the left and bunkers to the right, and nearly as many double bogeys (7) were made last year as eagles (9). Here’s a look at where all tee shots landed last year at the 15th WEATHER CHECK From PGA TOUR meteorologist Wade Stettner: “There will be a chance of rain showers Thursday morning before 8 a.m. with just a slight chance of a passing shower or two Thursday afternoon. Thursday’s high is forecast in the middle 80s with winds switching back to the north at 6-12 mph. Dry weather is forecast on Friday with light south winds and a high in the upper 70s. A low pressure system will arrive this weekend with rain chances increasing on Saturday. There is a slight chance for a few passing showers lingering into Sunday.� For the latest weather news from Cromwell, Connecticut, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK There are tournaments on the PGA TOUR that could be great fits for me, and this is one of those. I just regret I hadn’t been playing here my entire PGA TOUR career. BY THE NUMBERS 63 – Opening round score by Jordan Spieth last year. That’s his lowest first-round score in 143 career starts. 0 – Numbers of weekend rounds that two-time champ Bubba Watson has shot over par (in other words … none). Of his 40 career rounds at the Travelers, 35 have been played at par or better. 4 – Players with multiple runner-up finishes this season without a win – Marc Leishman (2012 Travelers champ), Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau and Chez Reavie. SCATTERSHOTS A year ago in his first Travelers start, Rory McIlroy was experimenting with putters. “I think I turned up on Saturday morning with about 10,� he recalled. Eventually, he used three different putters over the four-round event. Don’t expect a repeat this year – thanks in part to his work with New Englander Brad Faxon. “My putting has been probably as good as it ever has in terms of strokes gained,� McIlroy said. (He currently ranks 55th after ranking 140th after last season). “I feel comfortable with that part of my game.� Doug Ghim and Nick Hardy are making their pro debuts this week, while Dylan Meyer is making his second start after finishing T-63 in his pro debut at last week’s U.S. Open. “It’s a cool tournament,� noted Justin Thomas. “This, along with the John Deere, I think both of them have great reputations of giving young guys an opportunity to start their career.� Two-time winner Bubba Watson is making his 12th career start at the Travelers. No one consistently plays TPC River Highlands better than Watson. He’s a cumulative 94 under since 2006, best in that span. He’s made 181 total birdies since 2008, most in that span. And his scoring average of 67.65 is second only to Paul Casey’s 67.25 (minimum 12 rounds).

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