Following the U.S. Open in Brookline, Mass., the PGA Tour this week heads a few hours southwest down the I-90 to Cromwell, Conn., for the Travelers Championship. The par-70 layout at TPC River Highlands is the second-shortest course on the PGA Tour at 6,852 yards.
Five of the top six players in the world rankings lead the field. Another tight finish is expected with five of the past 11 Travelers Championships ending in a playoff.
The Travelers Championship will be a popular draw and betting event for fans in nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts residents making their way to the Constitution State for this week’s PGA Tour event.
While Massachusetts does not have legal sports betting, the state is working toward legalization. Lawmakers met in conference committee for the first time earlier this month to discuss differences in dueling legalization bills.
Top players, odds to win and notable groups to watch
Fans and gamblers like to follow their favorite golfers and odds to win. Boston-based DraftKings Sportsbook has odds to win the Travelers Championship available. Odds are always subject to change as more bets are placed and money comes in. Outright winner odds as of Wednesday morning:
- +800 – Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy
- +1200 – Patrick Cantlay
- +1600 – Sam Burns
- +1800 – Xander Schauffele, Jordan Spieth
- +2500 – Sungjae Im, Keegan Bradley, Seamus Power
- +3000 – Mito Pereira, Joaquin Niemann
- +3500 – Tony Finau, Brian Harman, Harold Varner III
- +4000 – Tommy Fleetwood, Davis Riley
- +5000 – Aaron Wise, Marc Leishman
Notable groups to watch Thursday and Friday:
- Rory McIlroy, Kevin Kisner, Webb Simpson (7:45 a.m. EDT Thursday, tee 10)
- Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Marc Leishman (12:40 p.m. EDT Thursday, tee 1)
- Sam Burns, Joel Dahmen, Keegan Bradley (12:50 p.m. EDT Thursday, tee 1)
- Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Zach Johnson (1 p.m. EDT Thursday, tee 1)
Fan favorite Justin Thomas withdrew Wednesday from the Travelers Championship. Another notable favorite withdrew Monday. U.S. Open and PGA Championship runner-up Will Zalatoris pulled out.
More LIV Golf defections
Two weeks ago, the PGA Tour indefinitely suspended 17 members who took part in the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf Series event in London. That included Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia – all Masters champions. A week later, more major champions joined the LIV Golf Series in Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed.
This week, Abraham Ancer and four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, both ranked top-20 in the world, joined LIV Golf.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan took part Tuesday in a PGA Tour policy board meeting. Monahan then held a meeting with more than 100 PGA Tour players to detail future changes to the Tour’s schedule, including additional tournaments for the top 50 players in the FedExCup Standings who will play in events with purses up to $20 million.
Reigning FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay commented on some concerns with the PGA Tour and where it’s headed at a Tuesday news conference.
“I think, right now, there’s a competition for talent that’s going on, and I think you see it in all sorts of other businesses,” Cantlay said. “You’ve seen it in other professional sports from time to time. Part of the concern is not knowing what the future is going to be like.”
Cantlay also commented on the uncertain time for golf with the LIV Golf series potentially fracturing the sport.
“If the PGA Tour wants to remain the preeminent tour for professional golfers, it has to be the best place to play for the best players in the world.”
