munneypicks

2015 Travelers Championship

Tournament: We leave the west coast and the amazing U.S. Open that was one of the most exciting finishes to a tournament in a good while. We head all the way across the country to Connecticut, TPC River Highlands to be specific. The Travelers Championship dates back to 1952 and has been held at TPC River Highlands since 1984. It is the 2nd most attended tournament on TOUR only behind the Waste Management Phoenix Open. This course is a par 70, similar to Chambers Bay, but it will play completely different as it plays almost 1,000 yards shorter. TPC River Highlands only stretches to 6,800 yards and plays on bentgreens. The course was redesigned by the legendary Pete Dye in 1989 so looking at a players history on his courses may be worthwhile, but keep in mind the original layout was not a Pete Dye design. This course will yield some low scores (Patrick Cantlay shot a 60 here as an amateur) and should be an exciting tourney throughout. A list of champions and winning scores below:

2014 – Kevin Streelman (-15)
2013 – Ken Duke (-12)
2012 – Marc Leishman (-14)
2011 – Freddie Jacobson (-20)
2010 – Bubba Watson (-14)

Field: We have 5 of the top 20 players in the world here this week including Bubba, Sergio, Patrick Reed, Oosthuizen, and Horschel. Many players understandably are taking the week off due to the enduring test that was Chambers Bay. 

What to Look For: TPC River Highlands is a course that has seen it’s fair share of golfers pick up their maiden victory on TOUR. In fact, 4 of the last 5 winners won for the first time here. However, it does take some experience at the course as is common with a Pete Dye setup. No one in the last 10 years has won this tournament in their first appearance. Veteran golfers looking for their first win seems to be the prototypical winner here. If players can get to -20 on a par 70, you know they have to be ripping up the par 4’s. Both par 4 scoring, Birdie or better %, and par 4 birdie or better % are all key stats to winning this week. Scoring average and Strokes Gained Tee to Green are also important as well. Driving stats have proven to be irrelevant over the years. Long accurate players have won and short inaccurate players have won. I’m treating players who competed last week with a little scrutiny. The U.S. Open was a grueling mental and physical test. So players who played 72 holes last week may have a bit of an issue with fitness and focus.

Picks:

Russell Knox e/w*: I believe Knox’s maiden victory will come on a par 70 track like this week. He has 4 top 25 finishes in his last 5 starts. He ranks 4th in par 4 scoring, 23rd in scoring average, and 58th in par 4 bob%.

Zach Johnson e/w*: ZJ played 72 holes last week and doesn’t have a great record here, but he’s playing better golf as of late and a whopping nine of his eleven PGA TOUR victories have come on bentgrass. He’s been striking the ball well and if his putting can get on track, he can win here.

Good Luck!