2021 Travelers Championship Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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Dustin Johnson Travelers Championship
Dustin Johnson walks on the 15th hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 28, 2020 in Cromwell, CT. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The PGA Tour heads across the country, from San Diego to New England, for the 70th edition of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Contested at TPC River Highlands, the Travelers has been a favorite PGA Tour stop since 1952.

Scores are generally not insanely low in this tournament – despite Jim Furyk’s otherworldly 58 in 2017, but with a stacked field, players know that a sub-60 round is possible, so expect to see nothing resembling conservative play in this edition.

The PGA Tour’s field this week in the Nutmeg state will be absolutely loaded, featuring a bevy of top-ranked players, headlined by the defending champion Dustin Johnson along with superstars Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed.

Here are more details to help you enjoy the 2021 edition of the Travelers Championship.


2021 Travelers Championship


Fast Facts

Tournament: Travelers Championship
Tour Debut: 1952
Dates: June 24-27, 2021
Where: Cromwell, Conn.
Course: TPC River Highlands
Distance: Par 70, 6841 yards
Architect: Pete Dye
Format: Stroke, 72-holes/36-hole cut
Purse: $7,400,000
Winning Share: $1,332,000
Winner’s FEC/OWGR Pts: 500/58
Defending: Dustin Johnson


How to Follow the Travelers Championship

Chez Reavie Wins the Travelers Championship
Chez Reavie plays a shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 23, 2019 in Cromwell, CT. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

TELEVISION: Thu-Fri: 3-6 p.m. (GOLF); Sat: 12:30-3 p.m. (GOLF), 3-6 p.m. (CBS); Sun: 1-3 p.m. (GOLF), 3-6 p.m. (CBS)

PGA TOUR LIVE: Thu-Fri: 6:45 a.m.-6 p.m. (Groups); Sat-Sun: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (Groups), 3-6 p.m. (Holes)
Watch on Prime Video

PGA TOUR RADIO: Thu-Fri: 12-6 p.m.; Sat-Sun: 1-6 p.m.
(PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com/liveaudio)

LINKS: Web | Instagram | Facebook


Tournament History

Credit: Getty Images/Scott Halleran

Running continuously since 1952, The Travelers Championship was originally called the Insurance City Open, a reference to nearby Hartford, Conn., which is colloquially known as the Insurance Capital of the World.

While that tournament name was dropped in 1967, its current name is something of a throwback to those days, as Travelers Property Casual Group is the third-largest insurance company in Connecticut.

From 1967-2003, the tournament was known as The Greater Hartford Open, with Sammy Davis Jr.’s name (he played in the event’s pro-am for a long time), even in the title for 16 years, along with corporate sponsor Canon.

While Travelers now owns the naming rights, locals still refer to it as the Greater Hartford Open. TPC River Highlands has been the tournament host since 1991.

The inaugural 1952 tournament was a four-stroke victory for Ted Kroll, a relative historical unknown who had eight career PGA Tour victories.

Notable winners of the Travelers include Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange, Nick Price, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, and Jordan Spieth.

Casper holds the tournament record with four victories, one ahead of Watson, who owns three – most recently in 2018.

The Greater Hartford Open might be most well-known for when current PGA of America President Suzy Whaley qualified for the tournament (via local qualifying) in 2003, making her the first woman to make a PGA tournament field in nearly 60 years.

Whaley missed the cut by 12 strokes, but it was still an historically notable event.

History: Tournament Names
  • Travelers Championship (07-Pres)
  • Buick Championship (04-06)
  • Greater Hartford Open (2003)
  • Canon Greater Hartford Open (89-02)
  • Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open (85-88)
    Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open (73-84)
  • Greater Hartford Open Invitational (67-72)
  • Insurance City Open Invitational (57-66)
  • Insurance City Open (52-56)
History: Recent Winners

2020: Dustin Johnson (-19)
2019: Chez Reavie (-17)
2018: Bubba Watson (-17)
2017: Jordan Spieth (-12)
2016: Russell Knox (-14)
2015: Bubba Watson (-16)
2014: Kevin Streelman (-15)

History: Records

SCORING
258 – Kenny Perry (2009)

TO PAR
-25 – Tim Norris (1982)

WINS
4 – Billy Casper (1963, 1965, 1968, 1973)
3 – Bubba Watson (2010, 2015, 2018)


Lookback: DJ Wins 2020 Travelers

Dustin Johnson Travelers Championship
Dustin Johnson poses with the trophy after winning the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 28, 2020 in Cromwell, CT. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

One day after shooting a career-low 61 at the Travelers Championship to get within two strokes of the Sunday lead, Dustin Johnson shot a 3-under 67 to reach 19-under par for the week at TPC River Highlands – winning the tournament by one stroke over 2014 champion Kevin Streelman.

With his 21st career PGA Tour victory, Johnson reached 13 straight seasons with at least one victory. That statistic is even more impressive when considering that he has been on the PGA Tour for 13 seasons.

Only five players in Tour history have a longer streak, with legends Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer topping the list at 17 consecutive seasons with a win.

Leaderboard: Final Top 5

Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Dustin Johnson -19 (-3)
2. Kevin Streelman -18 (-3)
3. Will Gordon -17 (-6)
3. Mackenzie Hughes -17 (-3)
5. Kevin Na -16 (-3)


Full Field and Odds

Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka acknowledges the gallery on the 14th hole during the first round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 21, 2018 in Cromwell, CT. Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Headlining the event at TPC River Highlands will be five of the top-10 ranked players in the world, including 2020 champion Dustin Johnson, who could take back the No. 1 position with a successful defense this week.

DJ will be joined by a plethora of superstars, including top-10 stars such as Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, and Patrick Reed, respectively.

Top-20 ranked names include Tony Finau (15), Scottie Scheffler (18), Harris English (19), and Paul Casey (20).

In addition to Johnson, other former Travelers winners teeing it up this week in Connecticut include Chez Reavie (2019), Bubba Watson (2018, 2015, 2010), Russell Knox (2016), Kevin Streelman (2014), Marc Leishman (2012), Stewart Cink (2008, 1997), Hunter Mahan (2007), JJ Henry (2006), and Phil Mickelson (2001, 2000).

Other marquee names include Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Francesco Molinari, Brandt Snedeker, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matthew Wolff, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer, and Cameron Smith, among others.

Top-5 Betting Favorites
1. Bryson DeChambeau (10-1)
2. Dustin Johnson (11-1)
3. Brooks Koepka (14-1)
4. Patrick Cantlay (16-1)
4. Paul Casey (16-1)

TPC River Highlands . Cromwell, CT . June 24-27, 2021


The Field: How They Qualified

Phil Mickelson Wins 2021 PGA Championship
Phil Mickelson gives a thumbs up on the 18th green during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, SC. (Photo by Stacy Revere via Getty Images)

How the field qualified for the 2021 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

Winner: PGA/U.S. Open Championship
Jason Day
Bryson DeChambeau
Dustin Johnson
Brooks Koepka
Phil Mickelson

Winner: The Players Championship
Rickie Fowler
Si Woo Kim

Winner: The Masters
Patrick Reed

Winner: British Open
Zach Johnson
Francesco Molinari

Winner: WGC Event
Kevin Kisner
Justin Rose
Bubba Watson

Winner: Invitational
Patrick Cantlay
Jason Dufner
Marc Leishman
Max Homa
Adam Scott
Arnold Palmer, Memorial, Genesis (Last 3 Years)

PGA Tour Winner
Ryan Armour
Daniel Berger
Keegan Bradley
Sam Burns
Paul Casey
Stewart Cink
Austin Cook
Joel Dahmen
Tyler Duncan
Harris English
Dylan Frittelli
Brice Garnett
Brian Gay
Lanto Griffin
Jim Herman
J.B. Holmes
Matt Jones
Sung Kang
Michael Kim
Patton Kizzire
Russell Knox
Satoshi Kodaira
Jason Kokrak
Nate Lashley
K.H. Lee
Adam Long
Troy Merritt
Keith Mitchell
Sebastián Muñoz
Kevin Na
Joaquin Niemann
Carlos Ortiz
C.T. Pan
Pat Perez
Scott Piercy
Ted Potter, Jr.
Ian Poulter
Andrew Putnam
Chez Reavie
Cameron Smith
Brandt Snedeker
Brendan Steele
Robert Streb
Hudson Swafford
Nick Taylor
Michael Thompson
Brendon Todd
Martin Trainer
Kevin Tway
Richy Werenski
Aaron Wise
Matthew Wolff
Past two seasons.

Career Money Exemption
Luke Donald
Hunter Mahan
Steve Stricker
Bo Van Pelt

Sponsors Exemptions: Members not otherwise exempt
J.J. Henry
Nick Watney

Sponsors Exemptions: Unrestricted
Austin Eckroat
Chase Koepka
John Pak
Davis Thompson

PGA Club Professional Champion
Alexander Beach

PGA Section Champion\Player of the Year
Brian Keiser

Top 125 FedExCup Points (2020)
Scottie Scheffler
Mackenzie Hughes
Tony Finau
Abraham Ancer
Kevin Streelman
Byeong Hun An
Brian Harman
Mark Hubbard
Danny Lee
Tom Hoge
Adam Hadwin
Harry Higgs
Russell Henley
Talor Gooch
Robby Shelton
Maverick McNealy
Doc Redman
Denny McCarthy
Henrik Norlander
Charley Hoffman
Sepp Straka
Harold Varner III
Cameron Tringale
Vaughn Taylor
Patrick Rodgers
Brian Stuard
Emiliano Grillo
Scott Harrington
Matthew NeSmith
Ryan Moore
Sam Ryder
Adam Schenk
Wyndham Clark
Scott Brown
Beau Hossler
Luke List
Scott Stallings
Rory Sabbatini
Tom Lewis
Bo Hoag

Top 125 (2020 Nonmember)
Will Gordon
Erik van Rooyen

Major Medical Extension
Chris Kirk
Kevin Chappell
Kevin Stadler
William McGirt
Sean O’Hair
John Huh
Jonas Blixt

Top 10 and Ties: Palmetto
Garrick Higgo
Jhonattan Vegas
Chesson Hadley
David Lipsky

Top 125 FEC/Top KFT (2019)
Peter Malnati
Doug Ghim
Tyler McCumber
Brandon Hagy
Kyle Stanley
Chase Seiffert
Anirban Lahiri
Vincent Whaley
Cameron Percy
Michael Gligic
Kramer Hickok
Rafael Campos
Hank Lebioda
Bronson Burgoon
Joseph Bramlett


Carey Hoffman contributed to this preview.
Credits: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images


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