The US Open is now a thing of the past and The Open is in our sights but before then we have some big tournaments coming up for some big players and that is very much the case this week at the Travelers Championship.
Russell Knox won this tournament last year and he is back to try and see off a top class field and retain the title but he’ll have to go well to do so.
Recent Winners
2016 – Russell Knox
2015 – Bubba Watson
2014 – Kevin Streelman
2013 – Ken Duke
2012 – Marc Leishman
2011 – Freddie Jacobson
2010 – Bubba Watson
2009 – Kenny Perry
2008 – Stewart Cink
2007 – Hunter Mahan
The Course
As ever TPC River Highlands is the venue this week. It is one of the easier courses on the PGA Tour traditionally but the rough is up for this renewal so it might play a little tougher than it has done in the past.
The Pete Dye track is a par 70 which is only 6,841 yards long so those less powerful off the tee will have their eyes light up this week. Hitting greens in the right number and scrambling and putting are the keys to scoring around here, as it is with all Dye designs.
The Field
When you think the US Open was only last week we have a really good field assembled here. Three of the current top names are in the field in Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth with plenty of former winners such as Bubba Watson, Mark Leishman and Kevin Streelman.
Many other top PGA stars are teeing it up this week too with Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, Brandt Snedeker, Paul Casey and Daniel Berger among those with a tee time in Connecticut.
Market Leaders
Jordan Spieth is an ever shortening 9/1 favourite for this tournament but given that he finished 17 shots behind Brooks Koepka last week I couldn’t possibly be taking him. Rory McIlroy is a 10/1 shot and he looked rotten last week so he is an even easier swerve.
Justin Thomas and Jason Day are both 14/1. The former had a heavy week at the US Open last week while the latter was so poor there he can’t possibly be backed this week so I’m keen to avoid both of them.
Paul Casey is a 22/1 shot to win around a course he has previously been beaten in a playoff on but he was another who suffered at Erin Hills last week so I’m not particularly keen on him either. Brandt Snedeker should go well at 28/1 but again he has baggage from the US Open. It is 30/1 bar those named.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Main Bets
I’ve got two main bets this week. I’ve backed both in recent times so I don’t need to do too much elaborating on them but I’ll go through why I am taking them.
Daniel Berger retained the St Jude Classic a couple of weeks ago and he was fifth on his debut here last year. He has improved all the time since then and generally when he performs well somewhere he betters that performance the following year. He won’t need to pound the driver to keep the ball in play this week but he can get it out there with accuracy when needed anyway. His game from the fairway onwards is tight and he’s a leading chance here.
Brendan Steele had a bit more of a heavy US Open last week but that is a good thing because it shows he is playing well and I fancy we’ll see that here too. Steele has been in good touch for a while now having opened the season with a win in the Safeway Open. He led the field in putts per GIR last week and in birdies or better and that should serve him well here.
Outsiders
I’ll chance my arm at three at bigger prices. Each are accurate ball strikers who if they get the rock rolling on the dance floor can give us a decent run at a big price.
Jim Furyk had a good US Open last week which was encouraging because his form hasn’t been great but if he can score around there then he can definitely score here. He finished with a round of 58 here last year and if he can put a couple of decent rounds together this year there is no reason why he can’t get himself into the mix and stay there.
Chez Reavie leads the PGA Tour in proximity to the hole but despite that his scrambling stats aren’t too bad either which is encouraging. He burnt up Erin Hills in the second round last week to show how well he is hitting the ball and if he can put it right on a much better fit for him here then he is another who shouldn’t be too far away.
I’ve long since been a fan of Anirban Lahiri and there is definitely a win in him on the PGA Tour soon. He almost claimed it at The Memorial a few weeks ago when he shared second place after a brilliant weekend and this course should suit him just as much as that one did. Lahiri went well in the USPGA when it was at Whistling Straits and that is a Dye course like this one. If he can be closer to the front earlier in the event this week he could steal the show come Sunday.
Tips
PLACED – Back D.Berger to win Travelers Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Betfair (1/5 1-7)
Back B.Steele to win Travelers Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Betfair (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
Back J.Furyk to win Travelers Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Betfred (1/4 1-6)
Back him here:
Back C.Reavie to win Travelers Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back A.Lahiri to win Travelers Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 101.00 with Paddy Power (1/5 1-7)
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
