2024 Travelers Championship Preview & Picks

Bryson DeChambeau wins the U.S. Open at 20-1! Alongside hitting the outright winner, we also cashed three of our four placement bets: Hideki Matsuyama T20 (+160), Si Woo Kim T40 (+115), and Aaron Rai T40 (+150).

Pre-Tournament Storylines

Signature Event

The Travelers Championship marks the final Signature Event of the season.

Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley aims to become the first golfer to win back-to-back at the Travelers Championship since Phil Mickelson in 2001-02. Last year, Bradley set the tournament scoring record at 23-under. This season, he has finished runner-up twice: first at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he lost in a playoff to Grayson Murray, and more recently at the Charles Schwab Challenge, finishing five strokes behind Davis Riley.

Xander Schauffele

2024 PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele returns to action at the Travelers Championship. Schauffele, the 2022 champion at TPC River Highlands, has 11 top-10 finishes in 15 events this season, including four consecutive top-10s, showcasing a tremendously complete campaign in 2024.

Scottie Scheffler

World No. 1 and FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler looks to bounce back after his performance at the U.S. Open. Following a closing 74 at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and rounds of 71-74-71-72 at the U.S. Open, it marked Scheffler’s first time shooting five straight over-par rounds. However, with five victories this season and a T4 finish at the Travelers last year, Scheffler remains a top contender.

Michael Thorbjornsen

Michael Thorbjornsen will make his professional debut at the Travelers Championship. Finishing No. 1 in the PGA TOUR University ranking in May, Thorbjornsen earned PGA TOUR membership for the remainder of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. During his four seasons at Stanford, he earned three victories and climbed to No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Thorbjornsen finished solo fourth at the Travelers Championship in 2022, marking the first top-five by an amateur on the PGA TOUR since 2017.

Tournament Information:

• Dates: June 20th, 2024 – June 23rd, 2024
• Location: Cromwell, Connecticut, United States
• Course: TPC River Highlands
• Course Type: Parkland
• Par: 70 (4x 3’s / 12x 4’s / 2x 5’s)
• Length: 6,835 yards (Short)
• Format: 72-hole stroke play
• Greens: Bentgrass / Poa annua .115”
• Fairways: Bentgrass / Poa annua .375”
• Rough: Kentucky bluegrass / fescue 4”-plus
• Bunkers: 69
• Water Hazard(s): 4 (In-Play on 5 Holes)
• Average Green Size: 5,000 sq. ft. (Small)
• Stimpmeter: 12.0 ft. (Average)
• Purse/ Winner: $20,000,000 /$4,000,000
• FedEx Cup Points: 700
• Field: 78-80 Players
• Cut: No Cut
• Playoff Format: Sudden-death format, with playoff holes being 18, 18, 17, then 18 played repeatedly
• Course Scoring Average:
• 2023: 68.40 (-1.60), Rank 39 of 49
• 2022: 69.39 (-0.61), Rank 22 of 50
• 2021: 69.74 (-0.26), Rank 22 of 51

Course Architect:

• Course Architect: Pete Dye (1982)
• Recent Renovations:
  • Bobby Weed (1989)
  • PGA Tour (2024)

To read more about the recent renovations, you can click the following link.

Comparable Courses & Greens:

• Comparable Courses:
  • Colonial Country Club – Charles Schwab Challenge – RESULTS
  • TPC Deere Run – John Deere Classic – RESULTS
  • TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) – THE PLAYERS Championship – RESULTS
  • Harbour Town Golf Links – RBC Heritage – RESULTS

• Designer Link (Pete Dye (1982)):
  • PGA WEST (Pete Dye Stadium Course) – Pete Dye (1986) – The American Express
  • TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) – Pete Dye (1980) – THE PLAYERS Championship
  • TPC Louisiana – Pete Dye (2004) – Zurich Classic of New Orleans
  • Harbour Town Golf Links – Pete Dye (1969) – RBC Heritage

• Comparable Location (Cromwell, Connecticut):
  • Oak Hill Country Club – Rochester, New York – 2023 PGA Championship
  • The Country Club – Brookline, Massachusetts – 2022 U.S. Open

• Comparable Yardage (6,835 Yards):
  • Port Royal Golf Course – 6,828 Yards – Butterfield Bermuda Championship
  • Pebble Beach Golf Links – 6,972 Yards – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

• Comparable Greens (Bentgrass / Poa annua .115”):
  • Detroit Golf Club – Bentgrass / Poa annua .100” – Rocket Mortgage Classic
  • Tahoe Mountain Club – Bentgrass / Poa annua .100” – Barracuda Championship
  • Olympia Fields Country Club – Bentgrass / Poa annua .095” – 2023 BMW Championship
  • Silverado Resort and Spa – Poa annua / bentgrass – Fortinet Championship

• Comparable Average Green Size (5,000 sq. ft.):
  • Muirfield Village Golf Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – the Memorial Tournament
  • Colonial Country Club – 5,000 sq. ft. – Charles Schwab Challenge
  • PGA WEST (Pete Dye Stadium Course) – 5,000 sq. ft. – The American Express
  • Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) – 5,000 sq. ft. – Farmers Insurance Open
  • Spyglass Hill Golf Course – 5,000 sq. ft. – AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

TV Information (all times ET):

• Round 1: Thursday, June 20th, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 2: June 21st, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 3: Saturday, June 22nd, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • CBS – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Round 4: Sunday, June 23rd, 2024
  • ESPN+ – 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Golf Channel – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • CBS – 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Weather:

• Thursday: Partly Cloudy 91 F, 9 mp/h SWW, 59% Humidity, 24% Chance of Rain
• Friday: Thunderstorms 89 F, 5 mp/h NE, 67% Humidity, 74% Chance of Rain
• Saturday: Showers 87 F, 7 mp/h SSE, 72% Humidity, 42% Chance of Rain
• Sunday: Isolated Thunderstorms 89 F, 12 mp/h S, 69% Humidity, 34% Chance of Rain

Course/ Tournament History:

TPC River Highlands was founded in 1928 and was known back then as Middletown Golf Club. Just six years later, the course underwent another name change to Edgewood Country Club. In the early 1980’s the club was purchased by the PGA Tour and underwent a renovation that redesigned the course to TPC standards. With the renovation came another name change and in 1984, the club became known was TPC of Connecticut. Five years later, the course would undergo another renovation and became known as TPC River Highlands.

The tournament was founded in 1952 as the Insurance City Open. It was initiated by the Greater Hartford Community Foundation and held at Wethersfield Country Club in Wethersfield, Connecticut. The first champion was Ted Kroll, who won with a score of 14-under-par.

Since 1984, TPC River Highlands has been the host course for the Travelers Championship. Just like the course itself, the tournament has underwent several name changes as well including the Buick Championship and Greater Hartford Open.

During the practice round at Tuesday, PGA TOUR professionals and caddies are given a chance to hit at the famous Travelers floating umbrella. The hole is known as The Umbrella at 15 1/2, which is located between 15th and 16th holes at TPC River Highlands. The hole is 85 yards long and the target is a 40-foot umbrella. The players are given one attempt at the umbrella, with the closest to the pin winner receiving $10,000 to the charity of their choice.

In 2023, Lee Hodges won The Umbrella at 15 1/2 Challenge with a shot that finished 11 1/2 inches from the pin at the floating red green. Since 2010, the winner of this Challenge has yet to win the tournament in the same year.

• Most Tournament Wins:
  • 4, Billy Casper: 1963, 1965, 1968, 1973
• 72-Hole Record (Event):
  • 257, Keegan Bradley (2023)
• 18-Hole Record (Event):
  • 58, Jim Furyk (fourth round, 2016)

Course Guide/ Scorecard:

Originally crafted by Pete Dye in 1982, TPC River Highlands features a Par 70 layout, comprising four Par 3s, twelve Par 4s, and two Par 5s.

In terms of length, TPC River Highlands is one of the shorter courses on the Tour measuring 6,835 yards. It ranks 3rd out of 44 courses in length. The fairways are on the narrower side, ranking 12th of 44, with the average fairway width being 30.0 yards. The average green size is roughly 5,000 square feet which is on the smaller side when compared to the other courses on the PGA Tour. Bunkers aren’t a factor here as there are only 69 which ranks as the 18th fewest of 44 courses.

The four Par 3’s range between 158 yards and 223 yards. In terms of stats, two of the four Par 3’s range between 200-225 yards. Last year, two of the Par 3’s had a scoring average over par, No. 3 (+0.09) and No. 16 (+0.025).

No. 5, 223 Yards, Par 3: A challenging par 3 with a long carry over water to a green surrounded by bunkers. The green slopes from back to front.

No. 8, 202 Yards, Par 3: A picturesque par 3 with a pond in front and bunkers surrounding the green. Club selection is crucial due to the prevailing wind.

No. 11, 158 Yards, Par 3: A short par 3 over water to a green surrounded by bunkers. Accuracy is essential.

No. 16, 171 Yards, Par 3: This scenic 171-yard, par 3 requires a well struck mid iron to clear the forced carry over water and stop the ball on the narrow green. The green has a lot of slope in it and pin locations can be difficult. The wind can play a significant role in club selection.

There are twelve Par 4’s at TPC River Highlands with the majority (seven) of those holes ranging between 400 and 450 yards. No. 15 is the shortest Par 4 listed at 296 yards with the longest being No. 4, playing 481 yards. In terms of scoring average, the toughest Par 4 on the course last year was No. 4 (+0.081).

No. 15, 296 Yards, Par 4: A drivable par 4 with a risk-reward element. One of the most exciting holes on the PGA TOUR, the 296-yard, par 4, hole No. 15 at TPC River Highlands forces players to make good decisions. There is water to the left and sand to the right. Anywhere from a 2 to 6 can be recorded on a player’s scorecard when walking off this green.

No. 17, 431 Yards, Par 4: Intimidation takes on a new meaning when standing on the tee box at No. 17. Players must fit their shot between the large lake that covers the entire right side and the difficult fairway bunker on the left. A good drive is just the first part to leaving this hole with a par. The approach shot will need to carry the water the entire way, and with any wind, club selection is of most importance. Crowds are huge on this hole because they know it can be the breaking point in the tournament.

No. 18, 444 Yards, Par 4: An absolute perfect finishing hole that allows players to make birdie if they play this par 4 well. At 444 yards, a good drive leaves a mid to short iron approach to a green encompassed by a throng of spectators.

There are only two Par 5’s at TPC River Highlands, No. 6 & No. 13. They both played under par in 2023, despite being some of the longer par 5’s on Tour. The easiest hole on the course last year was No. 6 with a scoring average of 4.548.

No. 6, 574 Yards, Par 5: The first par 5 on the course features a wide fairway but narrows near the green, which is reachable in two for long hitters. Water and bunkers protect the green.

No. 13, 523 Yards, Par 5: A reachable par 5 for long hitters. The fairway narrows near the green, which is guarded by bunkers and a steep slope at the back.

Featured/ Signature Hole(s): 15-18

For a hole-by-hole overview of the course, you can click the following link.

Key Statistics:

Per DataGolf, this is the favored skillset at TPC River Highlands.

• Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
  • Success this week will hinge on players’ ability to position themselves effectively off the tee. While the course’s considerable length underscores the significance of distance, precision holds equal importance.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Jordan Spieth
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Sungjae Im
    • Viktor Hovland
    • Kurt Kitayama
    • Adam Scott
    • Stephan Jaeger

• Strokes Gained: Approach
  • Having a strong iron game will be important this week if players want to succeed at TPC River Highlands.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Tony Finau
    • Corey Conners
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Hideki Matsuyama
    • Russell Henley
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Viktor Hovland
    • Si Woo Kim
    • Sahith Theegala

• Strokes Gained: Around the Green
  • The average green size at TPC River Highlands is 5,000 sq. ft. Players will undoubtedly miss greens this week so they’ll need to rely on their short game.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Webb Simpson
    • Hideki Matsuyama
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Justin Thomas
    • Christiaan Bezuidenhout
    • Max Homa
    • Patrick Cantlay
    • Russell Henley
    • Denny McCarthy
    • J.T. Poston

• Driving Accuracy
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Sepp Straka
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Tommy Fleetwood
    • Lucas Glover
    • Russell Henley
    • Si Woo Kim
    • Shane Lowry
    • J.T. Poston
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Austin Eckroat

• Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass & Poa Annua)
  • The green complexes at TPC River Highlands are Bentgrass / Poa annua .115”.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Denny McCarthy
    • J.T. Poston
    • Matt Fitzpatrick
    • Justin Rose
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Wyndham Clark
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Brendon Todd
    • Peter Malnati
    • Sam Burns

• Par 3 Scoring: 200-225 Yards (x2)
  • Two of the four Par 3’s at TPC River Highlands range between 200-225 Yards.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Adam Schenk
    • Taylor Pendrith
    • Emiliano Grillo
    • Sungjae Im
    • Tom Kim
    • Akshay Bhatia
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Russell Henley
    • Sahith Theegala
    • Mattieu Pavon

• Par 4 Scoring: 400-450 Yards (x7)
  • Seven of the twelve Par 4’s at TPC River Highlands range between 400-450 Yards.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Sepp Straka
    • Andrew Putnam
    • Brian Harman
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Corey Conners
    • Adam Scott
    • Russell Henley
    • Tom Kim

• Birdies or Better Gained
• Historically at TPC River Highlands the winning score has been -17 or better in five of the last six editions. Players will need to take advantage of every scoring opportunity this week if they want to put themselves into contention.
  • Leaders in this category in the last 24 Rounds:
    • Scottie Scheffler
    • Collin Morikawa
    • Corey Conners
    • Ludvig Aberg
    • Tony Finau
    • Ben Griffin
    • Tom Kim
    • Taylor Pendrith
    • Xander Schauffele
    • Viktor Hovland

• Proximity Gained: 125-175 Yards
  • Below is the approach shot distribution chart from last year’s event (via DataGolf). Most approach shots come from the 125-175 yard range at a volume much higher than the PGA Tour average.

• Leaders in Proximity Gained: 125-150 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Shane Lowry
  • Tom Hoge
  • Tom Kim
  • Russell Henley
  • Lucas Glover
  • Eric Cole
  • Jake Knapp
  • J.T. Poston
  • Cameron Young
  • Scottie Scheffler

• Leaders in Proximity Gained: 150-175 Yards in the last 24 Rounds:
  • Kurt Kitayama
  • Adam Schenk
  • Scottie Scheffler
  • Denny McCarthy
  • Seamus Power
  • Sepp Straka
  • Will Zalatoris
  • Corey Conners
  • Tony Finau
  • Ludvig Aberg

• Comparable Courses and Event History
  • Looking at the Data Golf Course History Tool, prior experience at the TPC River Highlands has proven to be advantageous.

• Leaders in this category in the last (Multiple Events Played):
  • Xander Schauffele
  • Scottie Scheffler
  • Sahith Theegala
  • Corey Conners
  • Patrick Cantlay
  • Adam Scott
  • Russell Henley
  • Viktor Hovland
  • Austin Eckroat
  • Michael Thorbjornsen

The Field:

This year’s Travelers Championship will feature a total of 72 competitors.

• Here is the current basis of qualification for each entrant this week:
  • Top 50 in the FedExCup Standings
  • Aon Next 10
  • Aon Swing 5
  • Current Year Tournament Winners
  • Sponsor Exemptions

• Previous Winners in the Field (Event):
  • Keegan Bradley (’23), Xander Schauffele (’22), Harris English (’21), Jordan Spieth (’17)

• Debutants in the Field (Event):
  • Akshay Bhatia, Jake Knapp, Matthieu Pavon, Nick Dunlap, Robert MacIntyre, Victor Perez, Will Zalatoris

• Sponsor Exemptions:
  • Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Billy Horschel

• Notable Withdraws/ Changes:
  • IN: Billy Horschel (Sponsor Exemption)
  • IN: Adam Scott (Sponsor Exemption)
  • IN: Webb Simpson (Sponsor Exemption)
  • WD: Rory McIlroy (Personal)

To see the full field for this event and how they qualified, you can click the following link.

The Odds:

Here are the current favorites for this week’s event along with a summary of their recent form and course history:

Scottie Scheffler (+360)

Despite coming off his worst finish of the season (T41) at the U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler has won five of his last nine starts. This will be his fifth appearance at TPC River Highlands, with his best finish coming last season when he placed T4.

Xander Schauffele (+750)

Xander Schauffele, who won this event in 2022, has finished inside the top 20 in four of his five prior appearances at this tournament. He has not finished outside the top 10 in his last four starts, which includes a victory at the PGA Championship.

Collin Morikawa (+1200)

Collin Morikawa has been in excellent form recently, finishing inside the top 20 in seven of his last eight events. Narrowing it down, he has three top-10 finishes in his last four starts. He has played in this event three times before, missing the cut twice (2023 & 2020) and finishing T36 in 2019.

Ludvig Aberg (+1400)

Ludvig Aberg has finished runner-up several times this season but has yet to capture his first win. He has been in great form, finishing T5 at the Memorial Tournament and T12 at the U.S. Open in his last two starts. Aberg played in this event once before, finishing T24 last season.

Viktor Hovland (+2000)

Viktor Hovland missed the cut at the U.S. Open last week but had finished inside the top 25 in each of his three prior starts. This will be his fourth time competing in the Travelers Championship, with his best finish coming in 2020 when he placed T11.

To see the most up-to-date odds, you can click the following link.

Projected Final Score:

• 72 Hole Winning Score: 261.5 / -18.5 (Over +100 / Under -120)

The winning score has been below 281.5 in three of the last four editions of the Travelers Championship. The lone outlier during that span was in 2021 when Harris English won with a score of 267. However, it should be noted that in 2021 the wind played a major factor which is something we shouldn’t see this week. Last year, Keegan Bradley set the 72-Hole Course Record (257, -23).

To place a bet at Superbook on the Projected Final Score of the Winner, you can click the following link.

Playoff Props:

• Will There Be a Playoff? (Yes +350 / No -500)

Since 2013, the Travelers Championship has ended in a playoff four times. The most recent playoff happened in 2021 when Harris English defeated Kramer Hickok.

To place a bet at DraftKings on the Playoff Prop, you can click the following link.

Hole-in-One:

• Will There Be A Hole-in-One? (Yes +100 / No -130)

In 2023, there was one hole-in-one which Rory McIlroy made on No. 8.

To place a bet at DraftKings on the Hole-in-One Prop, you can click the following link.

Facts and Figures:

• Six of the last seven winners posted a T10 finish or better in one of their previous five starts before winning at TPC River Highlands.
• Nine of the last 10 winners of this event had posted at least a T31 at TPC River Highlands prior to winning. (Credit Geoff Ulrich)

Recent Horses for Courses (Event):

Recent Donkeys for Courses (Event):

Previous Winners Scores, Prices, and Strokes Gained (Rank at Tournament):

• 2023: Keegan Bradley (-23)
  • Price: 80-1

• 2022: Xander Schauffele (-19)
  • Price: 20-1

• 2021: Harris English (-13)
  • Price: 45-1

• 2020: Dustin Johnson (-19)
  • Price: 30-1

• 2019: Chez Reavie (-17)
  • Price: 70-1

Previous Winners Incoming Form (Last 5 Starts):

• 2023: Keegan Bradley
  • MC – U.S. Open (MAJ)
  • T30 – the Memorial Tournament (PGA)
  • T29 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • T35 – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)
  • T48 – RBC Heritage (PGA)

• 2022: Xander Schauffele
  • T14 – U.S. Open (MAJ)
  • T18 – the Memorial Tournament (PGA)
  • T13 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • T5 – AT&T Byron Nelson (PGA)
  • WON – Zurich Classic (PGA)

• 2021: Harris English
  • 3 – U.S. Open (MAJ)
  • T14 – Palmetto Championship (PGA)
  • T64 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • T13 – AT&T Byron Nelson (PGA)
  • T43 – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)

• 2020: Dustin Johnson
  • T17 – RBC Heritage (PGA)
  • MC – Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA)
  • N/A – THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA)
  • T48 – WGC-Mexico Championship (PGA)
  • T10 – The Genesis Invitational (PGA)

• 2019: Chez Reavie
  • T3 – U.S. Open (MAJ)
  • MC – Charles Schwab Challenge (PGA)
  • T14 – PGA Championship (MAJ)
  • T18 – Wells Fargo Championship (PGA)
  • T18 – Zurich Classic of New Orleans (PGA)

Previous Winners Finishes at Event:

2023: Keegan Bradley

2022: Xander Schauffele

2021: Harris English

2020: Dustin Johnson

2019: Chez Reavie

Picks (Outrights):

• Ludvig Aberg (+1400) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.58 to win 8.12 Units

Ludvig has yet to secure a win this season despite several close calls, including runner-up finishes at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Masters. He comes into this week in excellent form, having finished T5 at the Memorial Tournament and T12 at the U.S. Open last week. Ludvig led the U.S. Open after 36 holes but struggled with back-to-back 73s in the final two rounds.

He has played this event once before, finishing T24, where he ranked 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 3rd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green. His downfall was his approach play, where he ranked 61st in the field in strokes gained. However, his iron play has been much more consistent this season, gaining strokes in that category in every start except one.

In his past 24 rounds, Aberg ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 7th in Strokes Gained: Approach, and 5th in Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass/Poa). He also excels in approach shots from 125-175 yards and ranks 6th in Par 4 Scoring from 400-450 yards.

Despite turning pro just a year ago, Ludvig has quickly established himself as one of the premier players on the PGA Tour. His overall game is in great form, and his accuracy off the tee has improved significantly this year. TPC River Highlands isn’t a long course, allowing him to club down on several Par 4s, yet still be aggressive given his distance. He won his first event at the RSM Classic last season with a winning score of -29, proving he can go low on these shorter courses.

• Sahith Theegala (+3300) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.25 to win 8.25 Units

Sahith Theegala has come close to securing his second career PGA Tour victory multiple times this season, with runner-up finishes at The Sentry and RBC Heritage. He enters this week in decent form, having finished T12 at the Memorial Tournament and T32 at the U.S. Open last week.

This will be Sahith’s fourth appearance at TPC River Highlands, with his best finish coming in 2022 when he finished T2. He had an opportunity to win that event, holding a one-shot lead heading into the final hole before making a double bogey.

In his past 24 rounds, Theegala ranks 13th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 10th in Strokes Gained: Approach, and 25th in Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass/Poa). He also excels in Par 4 Scoring from 400-450 yards and Birdies or Better Gained.

Theegala has demonstrated he can play well on this course, and given his current form, particularly his ball striking, he is well-positioned for an impressive finish this week.

• Corey Conners (+4000) – FanDuel
  • Risk 0.20 to win 8.00 Units

Corey Conners enters this week in impressive form, having finished 6th at the RBC Canadian Open, T20 at the Memorial Tournament, and T9 at the U.S. Open in his last three starts. While he has struggled with his putting this season, he has turned things around recently, gaining strokes on the greens in two of his last three events.

This will be Conners’ fourth appearance at TPC River Highlands. He struggled in his first two starts at the Travelers Championship, missing the cut in both 2018 and 2020. However, in his most recent appearance in 2023, he performed much better, finishing T9.

In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 20th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 3rd in Strokes Gained: Approach. He also excels in proximity from 125-175 yards, Par 4 Scoring from 400-450 yards, and Birdies or Better Gained.

Although he isn’t the longest hitter off the tee, his accuracy is more advantageous than distance at this venue. His ball-striking ability should set him up nicely given the small greens. While his putting has been an issue in the past, his recent improvement in this area is promising. If Conners can gain strokes on the green at Pinehurst, he should be able to do so at TPC River Highlands. Given his current form and last year’s performance, when he finished T9 despite entering in worse shape, there is high hope for him to build on that success this week.

• Tom Kim (+5000) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.16 to win 8.00 Units

Tom Kim has faced challenges for the majority of the 2024 season, yet signs of a turnaround have emerged with an impressive performance in the PGA Championship, finishing T26. Subsequently, he secured commendable finishes, placing T24 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, T4 at the RBC Canadian Open, and T26 at the U.S. Open last week.

Making his tournament debut last year, Kim finished T38. While his ball striking showcased excellence, he grappled with his play on and around the greens. However, recent outings indicate an improvement in his short game, with strokes gained in four of his last six starts. Additionally, he has shown proficiency in putting, gaining strokes in five of his last eight starts.

Over his past 24 rounds, Kim ranks 19th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 26th in Strokes Gained: Approach, and 22nd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green. He excels in proximity from 125-175 yards, Par 4 Scoring from 400-450 yards, and Birdies or Better Gained.

Although not the longest hitter off the tee, Kim’s accuracy holds an advantage over distance at this venue. His ball-striking prowess should position him well, particularly considering the small greens. While past putting woes exist, recent improvements offer promise. Notably, his wins on the PGA Tour have occurred at TPC Summerlin (twice) and Sedgefield Country Club, akin to shorter courses like TPC River Highlands.

Total Risk on Outrights: 1.19 Units

Picks (Top 10):

• Patrick Cantlay (+160) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.60 Units

Patrick Cantlay is coming off an impressive T3 finish at the U.S. Open, where he ranked 3rd in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Putting, and 24th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.

Cantlay has a stellar track record at TPC River Highlands, securing top-15 finishes in each of his last six trips to Cromwell, Connecticut. Last season, he finished T4 at the Travelers Championship, four strokes behind Keegan Bradley.

Given his strong performance last week at Pinehurst and his consistent success on this course, I expect Cantlay to build on his top-5 finish.

• Brian Harman (+250) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 2.50 Units

Brian Harman has yet to secure a win since capturing his first Major Championship at Royal Liverpool last year. This season, he started strong with top-20 finishes in his first two events. Though he hit a rough patch afterward, he regained form with impressive performances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and THE PLAYERS Championship. Since then, his results have been mixed, but he’s trending upward, finishing T21 at the U.S. Open last week.

Harman has an excellent track record at TPC River Highlands, with top-10 finishes in five of his last six trips to Cromwell, Connecticut. Last season, he finished T2 at the Travelers Championship, three strokes behind Keegan Bradley.

In his past 24 rounds, Harman ranks 25th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 25th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, and 26th in Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass/Poa). He excels in approach shots from 125-175 yards and ranks 5th in Par 4 Scoring from 400-450 yards over the same period.

Although he isn’t the longest hitter off the tee, TPC River Highlands suits his game well. Given his past success at this course and his current form, Harman is well-positioned for a top-10 finish this week.

Total Risk on Top 10s: 2.00 Units

Picks (Top 20):

• Keegan Bradley (+125) – BetMGM
  • Risk 1.00 to win 1.25 Units

Keegan Bradley has finished runner-up twice this season. He first came close at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he lost in a playoff to Grayson Murray, and more recently at the Charles Schwab Challenge, finishing five strokes behind Davis Riley. In his last two starts, Bradley finished T43 at the Memorial Tournament and T32 at the U.S. Open. Despite this recent form, it’s worth noting that he won this event last season after entering in worse shape, so his current play shouldn’t be a major concern.

In addition to last season’s victory, Bradley has four other top-20 finishes at TPC River Highlands.

Over his past 24 rounds, Bradley ranks 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 13th in Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass/Poa), and 16th in Birdies or Better Gained. He also excels in proximity from 125-175 yards and in Par 4 Scoring from 400-450 yards.

Total Risk on Top 20s: 1.00 Unit

Picks (First Round Props):

• Scottie Scheffler 1st Round Top 5 Finish (+200)/ Top 10 Finish (+100) – BetMGM
  • Risk 0.50 to win 1.00 Units / Risk 1.00 to win 1.00 Units

I have yet to back Scottie Scheffler this year, so this will be my first time doing so in any capacity. Scheffler is coming off his worst performance of the season, finishing T41 at the U.S. Open. He barely made the cut and wasn’t too fond of the overall course setup, particularly the waste areas.

Scheffler played in this event last year and finished T4. After the first round, he was at -7 (T4), just three shots off the leader, Denny McCarthy, who was at -10. This season, Scheffler ranks 1st in Round 1 Scoring Average, and given his ability to excel on this course, I am confident he can match or even exceed that number. Additionally, with a reduced field this year, it’s less likely that lower-tier players will shoot an incredible round before fading in the subsequent rounds.

Looking back at last season, Scheffler has shown a remarkable ability to rebound from poor performances. After finishing T45 at the CJ CUP, he finished T3 at the World Wide Technology Championship, where he was just three shots off the lead after the opening round (T7). Following a T31 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he finished T2 at the BMW Championship, where he was just one shot off the lead after the opening round (T3).

Given his track record of bouncing back, I have no doubt that Scheffler will rebound strongly in this week’s event.

Total Risk on First Round Props: 1.50 Units

As always, all of my placement bets are through BetMGM as they’re one of the only books without dead-heat rules. If you’d like to bet these placements at BetMGM, you can get up to $1500 in Bonus Bets if you don’t win if you’re a first-time user. Must Be 21+. Gambling Problem? Call or Text 1-800-GAMBLER.

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Total Risk on the Travelers Championship: 5.69 Units 

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.