June 25th – 26th, 2020

TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

Par: 70 / Yardage: 6,841

Purse: $7.4 million with $1,332,000 to the winner

Defending Champion: Chez Reavie

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Rory McIlroy again starts favourite this week at 12/1 as the bookies think he'll finally figure out how to play a nice tidy final round and destroy the field. 

In the win only market the real value has to be Bryson DeChambeau at 12/1.  T8 last week at Hilton Head to go with his T3 at Colonial which brings his top-10 streak to five in a row.  This tactic of blasting the living tar out of everything off the tee seems to be working and guess what?….there is plenty of room off the tee at TPC River Highlands.  If you are brave enough to go all in pre tournament, 12/1 look great odds considering he's finished T8 and T9 on his last two visits.

Looks way overpriced to me, but the bookies don’t really see Brooks as a danger with a best of T9 in 2016 at this venue.  What they might be overlooking is eight consecutive rounds now in the 60's and a solo 7th last week at the RBC.  Looking into that deeper you'll find 55 greens hit in regulation, T6 in the field and an equally impressive putting performance.  With more room off the tee this week, Brooks should be contending on this form.

T52 at the RBC last week doesn't inspire confidence but a final round of 65 gives hope.  I don't know how Bubba could possibly have been concentrating given all the trash talk with Wes Bryan in the first two rounds (see the video) but who knows maybe that's normal for him.  What we do know is that Bubba is a three time winner of the Travelers (2010, 2015, 2018) and has two other top-4 finishes besides.  Last week aside Bubba impressed with a T7 at Colonial, was excellent pre lockdown at the Farmers and in Phoenix and has to be a super shout this week.  IF he doesn't get paired with Wes Bryan again!!

A real gamble.  First start for Paul Casey since the 23rd February where he finished T11 at WGC Mexico but THE ultimate horse for this course.  Four top-5 finishes in his last five visits to the Travelers and second twice to Bubba in that period.  Super consistent greens in regulation stats over the last five years have been key to him cashing in here.  

Ancer produced some incredible golf in the final round at Hilton Head and was unlucky to be outdone by Webb Simpson's putter.  That performance included a field topping performance in accuracy off the tee AND greens in regulation.  The winning score on this course wont be 22 under and you have to deduce a similar ball striking week could see Ancer prevail.  T8 here last year.

Toss up for the last pick with Patrick Reed (33/1) but lets go with Joaquin.  Was on a terrible run of missed cuts before the enforced break and has come like a different player.  T32 at Colonial was a nice settler and T5 last week at Hilton Head was excellent.  Already a Tour winner at the Greenbrier he can do well this week having also finished T5 here on his debut last year.

Brian Harman 70/1: Solid if unspectacular top-30's in his two starts and holds a super record at River Highlands. Solo third in 2015, T6 in 2018 and T8 last year. Worth a little look even in a field stacked with talent.

Dylan Fritelli 150/1: High in confidence after a storming finish last week