Travelers Championship

The Travelers Championship is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour in Cromwell, Connecticut, a suburb south of Hartford. Since 1984 the tournament has been held at TPC River Highlands. It is managed by The Greater Hartford Community Foundation. In 2018 the Travelers Championship earned the Players Choice Award for the second consecutive year, which is voted on by PGA Tour members for its services, hospitality, attendance and quality of the course.

Travelers Championship
Tournament information
LocationCromwell, Connecticut, U.S.
Established1952, 69 years ago
Course(s)TPC at River Highlands
Par70
Length6,844 yards (6,258 m)
Tour(s)PGA Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund$7.2 million
Month playedJune
Tournament record score
Aggregate258 Kenny Perry (2009)
To par−25 Tim Norris (1982)
Current champion
Dustin Johnson
Location Map
TPC at River Highlands
Location in United States
TPC at River Highlands
Location in Connecticut

The 2016 tournament was played in August due to the Summer Olympics,[1] but in 2017 the tournament returned to June.

History

The tournament was founded 69 years ago in 1952 as the Insurance City Open;[2] It was renamed the Greater Hartford Open in 1967, a title that was retained through 2003. From 1973 through 1988, the GHO also bore the name of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., who would often play in the pro-ams. Canon was a title sponsor from 1985 to 2002, and their employees would often take vacation time during tournament week to volunteer at the event. Buick was title sponsor from 2004 to 2006 and The Travelers Companies took over sponsorship in 2007.

For the tournament's first three decades, it was played at Wethersfield Country Club, about five miles (8 km) north. In 1984, after the PGA Tour bought and redesigned Edgewood Country Club, the event moved to the new TPC of Connecticut in Cromwell. In 1991, the course was substantially redesigned with a completely new front nine holes and renamed the TPC at River Highlands. This TPC property was the third PGA Tour owned/managed championship golf course in what would grow to a network of over 30 TPC Clubs (2010).

The purse for the 2006 tournament, under Buick's sponsorship, was $4.4 million, with $792,000 going to the winner. From 2007 to 2010, the purse under Travelers' sponsorship was $6 million, with $1,080,000 going to the champion.

Over the last decade, longer hitters have done well at the tournament, with Stewart Cink, Hunter Mahan, J. J. Henry, Phil Mickelson, and Bubba Watson combining for six victories over a ten-year span. Mahan also finished tied for second in 2006 and 2008.[3]

Its position on the calendar has varied; in 2005 it was played in late August but in 2006 it was played in late June. Part of the FedEx Cup, the Travelers Championship has been played in late June, the week after the U.S. Open, since 2007.

For the 2020 season, it is part of the Open Qualifying Series providing up to two spots in the Open Championship for the top two non-exempt finishers in the top 8.

Attendance

It is the second-most-attended PGA Tour event annually, behind only the Waste Management Phoenix Open.[4] In 2011, the tournament attracted 240,000 fans for the week and 70,000 fans on Sunday. The tournament set a record attendance in 2002 with nearly 400,000 fans for the week. In 2017 about 290,000 fans attended, the most since Travelers started hosting the tournament.[5]

Course

Hole123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
Yards4343414314812235744432024063,5354621584115234212961714204443,3066,841
Par444435434354345443443570

Source:[6]

Winners

YearPlayerCountryScoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-upWinner's
share ($)
Purse ($)Ref
Travelers Championship
2020Dustin Johnson United States261−191 stroke Kevin Streelman1,332,0007,400,000
2019Chez Reavie United States263−174 strokes Keegan Bradley
Zack Sucher
1,296,0007,200,000
2018Bubba Watson (3) United States263−173 strokes Paul Casey
Stewart Cink
J. B. Holmes
Beau Hossler
1,260,0007,000,000
2017Jordan Spieth United States268−12Playoff Daniel Berger1,224,0006,800,000
2016Russell Knox  Scotland266−141 stroke Jerry Kelly1,188,0006,600,000
2015Bubba Watson (2) United States264−16Playoff Paul Casey1,152,0006,400,000
2014Kevin Streelman United States265−151 stroke K. J. Choi
Sergio García
1,116,0006,200,000
2013Ken Duke United States268−12Playoff Chris Stroud1,098,0006,100,000
2012Marc Leishman Australia266−141 stroke Charley Hoffman
Bubba Watson
1,080,0006,000,000
2011Freddie Jacobson Sweden260−201 stroke Ryan Moore
John Rollins
1,080,0006,000,000
2010Bubba Watson United States266−14Playoff Corey Pavin
Scott Verplank
1,080,0006,000,000
2009Kenny Perry United States258−223 strokes Paul Goydos
David Toms
1,080,0006,000,000
2008Stewart Cink (2) United States262−181 stroke Tommy Armour III
Hunter Mahan
1,080,0006,000,000
2007Hunter Mahan United States265−15Playoff Jay Williamson1,080,0006,000,000
Buick Championship
2006J. J. Henry United States266−143 strokes Hunter Mahan
Ryan Moore
792,0004,400,000
2005Brad Faxon United States266−14Playoff Tjaart van der Walt774,0004,300,000
2004Woody Austin United States270−10Playoff Tim Herron756,0004,200,000
Greater Hartford Open
2003Peter Jacobsen (2) United States266−142 strokes Chris Riley720,0004,000,000
Canon Greater Hartford Open
2002Phil Mickelson (2) United States266−141 stroke Jonathan Kaye
Davis Love III
720,0004,000,000
2001Phil Mickelson United States264−161 stroke Billy Andrade558,0003,100,000
2000Notah Begay III United States260−201 stroke Mark Calcavecchia504,0002,800,000
1999Brent Geiberger United States262−183 strokes Skip Kendall450,0002,500,000
1998Olin Browne United States266−14Playoff Stewart Cink
Larry Mize
360,0002,000,000
1997Stewart Cink United States267−131 stroke Tom Byrum
Brandel Chamblee
Jeff Maggert
270,0001,500,000
1996D. A. Weibring United States270−104 strokes Tom Kite270,0001,500,000
1995Greg Norman Australia267−132 strokes Dave Stockton Jr.
Kirk Triplett
Grant Waite
216,0001,200,000
1994David Frost South Africa268−121 stroke Greg Norman216,0001,200,000
1993Nick Price Zimbabwe271−91 stroke Dan Forsman
Roger Maltbie
180,0001,000,000
1992Lanny Wadkins United States274−62 strokes Dan Forsman
Donnie Hammond
Nick Price
180,0001,000,000
1991Billy Ray Brown United States271−9Playoff Rick Fehr
Corey Pavin
180,0001,000,000
1990Wayne Levi United States267−132 strokes Mark Calcavecchia
Brad Fabel
Rocco Mediate
Chris Perry
180,0001,000,000
1989Paul Azinger (2) United States267−171 stroke Wayne Levi180,0001,000,000
Canon Sammy Davis Jr.–Greater Hartford Open
1988Mark Brooks United States269−15Playoff Dave Barr
Joey Sindelar
126,000700,000
1987Paul Azinger United States269−151 stroke Dan Forsman
Wayne Levi
126,000700,000
1986Mac O'Grady United States269−15Playoff Roger Maltbie126,000700,000
1985Phil Blackmar United States271−13Playoff Jodie Mudd
Dan Pohl
108,000600,000
Sammy Davis Jr.–Greater Hartford Open
1984Peter Jacobsen United States269−152 strokes Mark O'Meara72,000400,000
1983Curtis Strange United States268−161 stroke Jay Haas
Jack Renner
54,000300,000
1982Tim Norris United States259−256 strokes Raymond Floyd
Hubert Green
54,000300,000
1981Hubert Green United States264−201 stroke Bobby Clampett
Fred Couples
Roger Maltbie
54,000300,000
1980Howard Twitty United States266−18Playoff Jim Simons54,000300,000
1979Jerry McGee United States267−171 stroke Jack Renner54,000300,000
1978Rod Funseth United States264−204 strokes Dale Douglass
Lee Elder
Billy Kratzert
42,000210,000
1977Billy Kratzert United States265−193 strokes Grier Jones
Larry Nelson
42,000210,000
1976Rik Massengale United States266−182 strokes Al Geiberger
J. C. Snead
42,000210,000
1975Don Bies United States267−17Playoff Hubert Green40,000200,000
1974Dave Stockton United States268−164 strokes Raymond Floyd40,000200,000
1973Billy Casper (4) United States264−201 stroke Bruce Devlin40,000200,000
Greater Hartford Open Invitational
1972Lee Trevino United States269−15Playoff Lee Elder25,000125,000
1971George Archer United States268−16Playoff Lou Graham
J. C. Snead
22,000110,000
1970Bob Murphy United States267−174 strokes Paul Harney20,000100,000
1969Bob Lunn United States268−16Playoff Dave Hill20,000100,000
1968Billy Casper (3) United States266−183 strokes Bruce Crampton20,000100,000
1967Charlie Sifford United States272−121 stroke Steve Oppermann20,000100,000
Insurance City Open Invitational
1966Art Wall Jr. United States266−182 strokes Wes Ellis20,000100,000
1965Billy Casper (2) United States274−10Playoff Johnny Pott11,00070,000
1964Ken Venturi United States273−111 stroke Al Besselink
Paul Bondeson
Sam Carmichael
Jim Grant
7,50050,000
1963Billy Casper United States271−131 stroke George Bayer6,40040,000
1962Bob Goalby United States271−13Playoff Art Wall Jr.5,30035,000
1961Billy Maxwell United States271−13Playoff Ted Kroll4,30030,000
1960Arnold Palmer (2) United States270−14Playoff Bill Collins
Jack Fleck
3,50030,000
1959Gene Littler United States272−121 stroke Tom Nieporte3,50025,000
1958Jack Burke Jr. United States268−163 strokes Dow Finsterwald
Art Wall Jr.
3,50025,000
1957Gardner Dickinson United States272−122 strokes George Bayer2,80022,000[7]
Insurance City Open
1956Arnold Palmer United States274−10Playoff Ted Kroll4,00020,000[8][9][10]
1955Sam Snead United States269−157 strokes Fred Hawkins
Mike Souchak
4,00020,000[11]
1954Tommy Bolt United States271−13Playoff Earl Stewart2,50015,000[12]
1953Bob Toski United States269−151 stroke Jim Ferrier2,40015,000[13]
1952Ted Kroll United States273−114 strokes Lawson Little
Skee Riegel
Earl Stewart
2,40015,000[2]

Note: Green highlight indicates scoring records.
Main sources[3][14][15]

Multiple winners

Seven men have won the Travelers Championship more than once through 2018.

Highlights

  • 1952: Ted Kroll wins the inaugural tournament. He beats Lawson Little, Skee Riegel, and Earl Stewart by four shots.[2][16]
  • 1955: Amateur Bill Whedon becomes the first player in PGA Tour history to record two holes-in-one in the same round.[17]
  • 1956: Arnold Palmer makes the Insurance City Open his first United States based PGA Tour victory by beating Ted Kroll in a playoff.[10] Afterwards Palmer said "Ted is a great guy—he even gave me the putter that beat him."[18]
  • 1962: Bob Goalby defeats Art Wall Jr. on the seventh hole of a sudden death playoff after Wall misses an 18-inch putt for par on the 72nd hole.[19]
  • 1967: African American golfer Charlie Sifford wins his first PGA Tour event. He beats Steve Oppermann by one shot.[20]
  • 1968: Billy Casper becomes the tournament's first and so far only three-time winner. He beats Bruce Crampton by three shots.[21]
  • 1972: Lee Trevino defeats Lee Elder in a sudden death playoff. If Elder had won, he would have become qualified for The Masters.[22]
  • 1973: Billy Casper shoots a final round 64 to win for the fourth time at Hartford. He beats Bruce Devlin by one shot.[23]
  • 1974: Dave Stockton wins by four shots over Raymond Floyd. After the tournament, Stockton gets a congratulatory call from then President Gerald Ford. Stockton also arranges to donate his entire $40,000 winnings check to charity.[24]
  • 1977: Billy Kratzert beats Grier Jones and Larry Nelson by three shots. Two years earlier, Kratzert had quit golf and gone to work as a forklift operator.[25]
  • 1981: Ninety-one players made the 36-hole cut, a PGA Tour record.
  • 1982: Tim Norris sets tournament records for aggregate (259) scoring and under par (−25) as he wins by six shots over Hubert Green and Raymond Floyd.[26]
  • 1986: Mac O'Grady shoots a final round 62 to catch Roger Maltbie, then defeats him on the first hole of sudden death.[27]
  • 1989: Paul Azinger chips it in on the 72nd hole to beat Wayne Levi by one shot.[28]
  • 1992: Lanny Wadkins, who had last played in Hartford in 1978, shoots a final round 65 to win by two shots over Dan Forsman, Nick Price, and Donnie Hammond.[29]
  • 2000: Notah Begay III wins for the second week in succession after he makes birdie on the 72nd hole to edge Mark Calcavecchia by one shot.[30]
  • 2002: Phil Mickelson becomes the first winner to successfully defend his title. He beats Jonathan Kaye and Davis Love III by one shot.[31]
  • 2003: Nineteen years after his first triumph in Hartford, Peter Jacobsen wins again, beating Chris Riley.[32] Jacobsen's $720,000 winner's check was ten times what he earned in 1984.[33] The tournament was also notable when Suzy Whaley became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA Tour event, though her appearance was controversial after playing from shorter tees during her qualifying tournament, the Connecticut PGA Championship.
  • 2011: Patrick Cantlay, an amateur golfer from UCLA, set a course-record of 10-under 60, the lowest round ever shot on the PGA Tour by an amateur.[34]
  • 2014: Kevin Streelman birdies the last seven holes in the final round, a PGA Tour record for an event winner.[35]
  • 2016: Jim Furyk shot a 12-under-par 58 in the final round, becoming the first player to shoot 58 in a PGA Tour event.[36]
  • 2017: Jordan Spieth wins in a playoff against Daniel Berger by holing his bunker shot for birdie on the first playoff hole. Berger had a chance to advance the playoff, but missed his long birdie putt.

References

  1. Wacker, Brian (July 23, 2015). "Travelers Championship announces new date". PGA Tour.
  2. "Ted Kroll wins first tournament". Ottawa Citizen. Associated Press. September 2, 1952. p. 18.
  3. "Travelers Championship – Past Winners". PGA Tour. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  4. Inside the course: TPC River Highlands Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Spieth's Playoff Win Caps Record Attendance For PGA Tour Travelers Championship". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  6. "Course map" (PDF). Travelers Championship. May 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  7. "Dickinson Takes Insurance Golf". The Modesto Bee. California. United Press. September 3, 1957. p. 17. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  8. "Littler Listed Insurance City Golf Favorite". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. United Press. June 28, 1956. p. 2D. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  9. "Weather Rated Big Factor In Insurance Open". The Tuscaloosa News. Alabama. Associated Press. June 28, 1956. p. 11. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  10. "Palmer takes Insurance Open after playoff with Ted Kroll". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. June 2, 1956. p. 16.
  11. "Sammy Snead Takes Berth". Prescott Evening Courier. Arizona. Associated Press. September 6, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  12. "Bolt and Stewart Play Off For Wethersfield Golf Cash". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. June 28, 1954. p. 19. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  13. "Toski Nabs $15,000 Insurance City Go". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Florida. Associated Press. August 31, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  14. Travelers Championship – Winners Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine – at golfobserver.com (since 1970)
  15. Johnson, Sal; Seanor, Dave, eds. (2009). The USA Today Golfers Encyclopedia. New York, New York: Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60239-302-8.
  16. Ted Kroll Cops Storm-Hindered Insurance Open
  17. Staats, Wayne (October 29, 2018). "These are the only three golfers to make two holes-in-one in same PGA Tour round". PGA of America. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  18. Palmer Uses Foe's Putter for Playoff Win
  19. 18-inch putt costs Wall $1,900
  20. Charles Sifford Wins Hartford Tourney
  21. Casper Grabs Hartford Win
  22. Trevino Tops Elder To Cop Hartford Open
  23. Billy Casper Leaves Mob to Capture Hartford Crown
  24. Stockton Claims Hartford Win
  25. Kratzert outduels Strange, wins Greater Hartford Open
  26. Norris wins in Hartford by 6 strokes
  27. Controversial Mac 'Grady wins Hartford Open
  28. Azinger of a chip keys Hartford win
  29. Lanny Wadkins wins his 21st title at the Hartford Open
  30. Long Putt Gives Begay Back-to-Back Victories
  31. Golf; Mickelson Earns Repeat Title at Greater Hartford Open
  32. Hartford triumph for Jacobsen
  33. Tournament History Archived 2011-05-04 at the Wayback Machine
  34. "Patrick Cantlay's 60 is amateur record on PGA Tour". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. June 25, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  35. "Streelman sets birdie record in win". ESPN. Associated Press. June 22, 2014.
  36. Sobel, Jason (August 7, 2016). "Jim Furyk notches record for best PGA Tour round". ESPN.

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