Steve Palmer's Travelers Championship Golf Tips

Steve Palmer Updated: 21 Jun 23 15:24 Published: 21 Jun 23 13:18

The PGA Tour is hosting another mega-bucks designated event this week – the Travelers Championship from Connecticut – and Racing Post golf guru Steve Palmer is on hand with his verdict.

Steve Palmer's Travelers Championship Tips

Patrick Cantlay To Win Outright @ 11/1
Tom Kim To Win Outright @ 35/1
Nick Hardy To Win Outright @ 175/1
Jason Day to Miss Cut @ 2/1
Tommy Fleetwood Top British @ 15/4

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What	Travelers Championship
Where	TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
When	12:00, Thursday 22nd June, 2023
How to watch	bet365 Live Golf Tracker & Sky Sports Golf
Odds	Scottie Scheffler 13/2, Jon Rahm 11/1, Patrick Cantlay 11/1, Rory McIlroy 12/1, Xander Schauffele 12/1, Viktor Hovland 18/1, Collin Morikawa 22/1

Connecticut golf fans are buzzing that their event has been handed 'designated' status on the PGA Tour this season – because it means nearly all of the world's best players have been attracted to TPC River Highlands to compete for a $20 million prize fund.

This will be the strongest Travelers Championship in history, with all of the world's top six in attendance, and Scottie Scheffler tops the market at 13/2. The American has not finished worse than 12th place in any of his 14 tournaments this year, exhibiting relentless tee-to-green consistency, but putting issues mean he has won only two titles.

Jon Rahm closed with an excellent round of 65 in the US Open on Sunday, so has headed to the Travelers in high spirits. He reported in his media conference that he feels fresh for the event and the Spaniard is a tempting option at 11/1.

Rory McIlroy has to quickly overcome his US Open disappointment if he is to mount a Travelers Championship title tilt. He finished a shot behind a triumphant Wyndham Clark at Los Angeles Country Club on Sunday – the Northern Irishman's Major-winning drought continuing – and he can be backed at 12/1 to bounce back with River Highlands glory.

Xander Schauffele is the defending champion this week, but, like McIlroy, he also left the US Open in a glum mood. The American started the tournament with a 62, but wobbled badly over the weekend, finishing tied 10th.

Each-way terms of a quarter the odds, the first five places are available for the Travelers Championship, as well as alternative options, like a fifth the odds, the first eight places in the Each Way Extra section.

Travelers Championship course details

TPC River Highlands in Connecticut is a 6,852-yard, par-70, with only two par-fives. The Pete Dye design has hosted this event since 1984. Only the Phoenix Open attracts more spectators to a PGA Tour event than the Travelers, so the atmosphere is usually electric.

All types of player have succeeded at River Highlands – short-hitters like Olin Browne and Woody Austin have won, as well as powerhouses like Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. It is an easy track and Jim Furyk carded a round of 58 in the 2016 Travelers.

Sunny, warm and calm weather is forecast for the most part.

Cantlay can build on solid record

World number four Patrick Cantlay carded a round of 60 in the 2011 Travelers – when he was still an amateur – and his form figures from his last five visits to River Highlands are 15-15-11-13-13.

After a strong weekend in the US Open, the 11/1 chance looks the man to beat.

Tom Kim getting back to his best

South Korean youngster Tom Kim can be backed at 35/1 for Travelers Championship glory, which seems a bargain when you consider how well he finished the US Open.

Kim signed off from LACC with rounds of 68, 66 and 69, swinging with great freedom.

Hardy looks like a lively outsider

The 175/1 about Nick Hardy for the Travelers Championship may appeal to each-way punters. The rising star of the PGA Tour won the Zurich Classic pairs event alongside Davis Riley in April.

Hardy was eighth in last year's Travelers and 20th in the US Open on Sunday.

Australian appears vulnerable

Jason Day ended a five-year victory drought in the Byron Nelson a month ago, but a wrist injury has developed since then to go with his various other health issues.

Day can be backed at 2/1 to miss the Travelers cut and this looks good value given the fact he has failed to make the weekend in four of his last five events.