U.S. Open champ Jon Rahm will not be making the trip to Cromwell, Conn., for this week’s Travelers Championship, but several of last week’s contenders will descend on TPC River Highlands, including co-favorites Bryson DeChambeau, who has three straight top 10s in the tournament, and defending champion Dustin Johnson (12/1).
Brooks Koepka and Patrick Cantlay, who set a course record at the 2011 Travelers as an amateur with a round of 60, are 16/1. Paul Casey (18/1) has a pair of runner-up and fifth-place finishes in the tournament over the past six years.
Here are some longer shots who have a chance to surprise in the suburbs of Hartford.
Abraham Ancer (28/1)
The No. 23 player in the world is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory. He has finished eighth and 11th in the last two years here. He has missed his last two cuts including at last week’s U.S. Open, but Ancer is not that far removed from excellent form: He finished fifth at the Valspar, second at the Wells Fargo and T-8 at the PGA in three consecutive starts.
Joaquin Niemann (35/1)
Made the cut at the U.S. Open on the way to a T-31 finish, but was 15th for Strokes Gained: Tee-To-Green. His form has cooled from earlier in the season. Nevertheless, this looks like a good spot for him. He finished fifth in this event two years ago.
Keegan Bradley (40/1)
Was born and raised in New England, so he plays this event each year. He finished runner-up two years ago to Chez Reavie. His ball-striking stats have been near the top of the entire tour of late including fifth for SG: Tee-To-Green, 10th for SG: Ball Striking, 10th for SG: Total, and 11th for SG: Approach over his past 24 rounds.
Bubba Watson (40/1)
The three-time Travelers champion was T-5 after 36 holes last week at the U.S. Open. He finished T-50, but showed some positives, going 21st for Driving Accuracy and 16th for SG: Off-The-Tee. Watson has always thrived on this track since it allows many ways to attack it and it plays to the strength of his game, creativity.
Rickie Fowler (50/1)
Had to sit on the sidelines last weekend as he did not qualify for the U.S. Open. His game, however, has shown some life, with an eighth at the PGA Championship (his first Top 10 in a major since the 2019 Open Championship) and an 11th at the Memorial(his best finish at Muirfield Village since 2018). Those finishes got him back within the top 100 in the world at 91st. Over the weekend, Fowler and his wife announced that they are expecting a baby, so he should come to the Travelers in a better place mentally. The tournament also looks like an ideal place for him get on track, as he can keep his driver in the bag.
Francesco Molinari (66/1)
Returned from a six-week break to finish T-13 at the U.S. Open and likely would have finished higher had he not lost 3.5 strokes putting in his Friday round. Francesco was able to reunite with his brother Edoardo, also in last week’s field, whom he had not seen in person since 2019.
Emiliano Grillo (80/1)
Has never been better than 19th in four career Travelers starts. He leads this week’s field, however, for SG: Approach and SG: Par 4s 400-450 Yards over the last 24 rounds.
Will Gordon (200/1)
Finished third in this tournament last year to earn Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour, which he turned into full-time status. He had missed five cuts in a row until a 14th two weeks ago at Congaree, where he led the field for SG: Approach and was 5th for SG: Tee-To-Green.