Travelers Championship Preview

The PGA Tour travels to Connecticut this week for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands. Kenny Perry looks to defend the title but he’ll face stiff competition from a strong field.

Kenny Perry defends
Fergus Bisset
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published

Lowdown: The PGA Tour travels to Connecticut this week for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands. Kenny Perry looks to defend the title but he'll face stiff competition from a strong field. The Travelers Championship has had a number of different guises since it was first contested in 1952 and from 1967 until 2003 it was known as the Greater Hartford Open. Over the years there have been some notable winners including Arnold Palmer, Charles Sifford, Lee Trevino and Greg Norman. The course has an interesting history dating back to its original construction in 1928. Back then it was known as Edgewood Country Club and it remained untouched until 1982 when Pete Dye was employed to redesign the layout in order for it to host the Greater Hartford Open of 1984. Bobby Tweed completed a secondary redesign in 1989. With natural amphitheatres and numerous viewing points, this is a great course for spectators and it attracts more visitors than any other regular PGA Tour event, save for The Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. Last season at TPC River Highlands, veteran Kenny Perry set a tournament record four-round total of 22-under-par to win by three from Paul Goydos and David Toms. He fired a 61 in round one and finished with a 63. Perry, now just a month away from his 50th birthday, will return to River Highlands to defend the title. He'll be joined by a host of top players including Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Justin Rose and Matt Kuchar.

Venue: TPC River Highlands, Connecticut Date: Jun 24-27 Course stats: par 70, 6,844 yards Purse: $6,000,000 Winner: $1,080,000 Defending Champion: Kenny Perry (-22)

TV Coverage: Thursday 24 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Friday 25 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Saturday 26 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Sunday 27 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 8pm

Player Watch: Hunter Mahan - He may not have shown great form over the last month, but he's a true specialist when it comes to TPC River Highlands. His last three finishes here have been - 1st, tied 2nd and tied 4th. Bo Van Pelt - One of the most consistent performers on this year's PGA Tour. He leads the circuit in ball striking and finished in the top-10 in this event last season. Boxes... Ticked. Rickie Fowler - He's come close twice this season with second places in Phoenix and at The Memorial. He looks likely to secure his first victory at some point in 2010 and this could be the event he does it.

Key hole: 13th. A relatively short par 5 at just 523 yards. Everyone in the field should have the opportunity to get home in two, however, water waits short and a dangerous bunker lies over the back. It's a real risk and reward hole.

Skills required: Going low. This is one of the more straightforward courses on the PGA Tour schedule - it ranked as the 15th easiest track in 2009. Like Kenny Perry last year, the winner will probably be better than 20-under-par for 72 holes. Expect to see plenty of rounds in the low 60s.
Where next?
Tour news: Travelers Championship betting guide Equipment: Latest reviews Competitions: Golf prizes to be won Golf opinion: Blogs and debate

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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