Travelers Championship Preview

After a thrilling U.S. Open at Pinehurst, the regular PGA Tour season continues this week with the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut. Ken Duke defends the title.

Lowdown: After a thrilling U.S. Open at Pinehurst, the regular PGA Tour season continues this week with the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut. Ken Duke defends the title.

A strong field has assembled for this event as many of the top players have made the journey from North Carolina following the year’s second Major Championship.

Bubba Watson will tee it up, so too Matt Kuchar, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Sergio Garcia.

In recent years, this tournament has produced a string of first-time PGA Tour winners. In 2010 it was Bubba Watson, then Freddie Jacobson and Marc Leishman in 2011 and 2012.

Last season Ken Duke came through a playoff against fellow American Chris Stroud. The veteran edged it with a birdie three at the second extra hole.

TPC River Highlands was originally laid out in 1928 by Robert J. Ross and Maurice Kearney, at that time it was known as Edgewood Country Club. The course was redesigned by Pete Dye in 1982 and again by Bobby Weed in 1998.

The Travelers Championship has had a number of different guises since it was first contested in 1952. It began life as the Insurance City Open and, for a time, was hosted by Sammy Davis Jnr. Over the years there have been some famous winners of the event including: Arnold Palmer, Charles Sifford, Lee Trevino and Greg Norman.

There might well be some rain earlier in the week, but this should clear as the tournament progresses. Warm, sunny weather should prevail over the weekend.

Venue: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut Date: Jun 19-22 Course stats: par 70, 6,854 yards Purse: $6,200,000 Winner: $1,098,000 Defending Champion: Ken Duke (-12)

TV Coverage: Thursday 19 – Sky Sports 4 from 8pm (red button) Friday 20 – Sky Sports 4 from 8pm (red button) Saturday 21 – Sky Sports 4 from 6pm

Player Watch: Graham DeLaet – The Canadian may have missed the cut at Pinehurst but he’ll look to bounce back in a tournament he finished third in last year. Tied seventh then tied 14th in his last two starts prior to the U.S. Open

Hunter Mahan – He’s won this event in the past and has twice been runner-up. He’s won more money in this tournament than any other player.

Jason Day – The Australian proved he has recovered from injury with a tied fourth finish at Pinehurst.

Key hole: 17th. It’s only 433 yards, but the tee shot is extremely demanding with water waiting right and a sprawling fairway bunker protecting the left side. The second shot must then fly all the way over the water and anything slightly mis-struck or drifting on the wind, could end up wet.