? COURSE: TPC River Highlands, 6,841 yards, par 70. Situated on a
bluff overlooking the Connecticut River, River Highlands is the third
rendition for the parcel where golf has been played since 1928. Pete Dye
did a full makeover in 1982, with former PGA TOUR pros Howard Twitty
and Roger Maltbie serving as consultants on an upgrade seven years
later. Nos. 15-17 play around a four-acre lake, helping create a finish
considered among the most exciting on TOUR. Peter Jacobsen triumphed
when the Greater Hartford Open relocated there in 1984, then turned back
the clock 19 years later to win it again.
? FIELD WATCH: Masters titleholder Bubba Watson, who won in
2010, and five other players among the top 15 in the world rankings join
defending champion Ken Duke in the lineup. No. 5 Matt Kuchar and No. 7
Jason Day also have committed. … In all, River Highlands will feature 55
players who teed it up at Pinehurst for this week's U.S. Open. …
Patrick Cantlay, who set the TPC River Highlands record with a 60 three
years ago as an amateur, makes just his second start of 2014 after
losing nearly a year to a stress fracture in his back. He tied for 71st
at the HP Byron Nelson Championship last month.
? 72-HOLE RECORD: 258, Kenny Perry (2009).
? 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Tommy Bolt (2nd round, 1954 at Wethersfield CC), Patrick Cantlay (2nd round, 2011).
? LAST YEAR: Duke became the PGA TOUR's oldest first-time
winner in nearly two decades, withstanding Chris Stroud's chip-in to
force a playoff by winning on the second extra hole. Duke, 44, fired
rounds of 65-66 on the weekend, aided in part by a lucky bounce in the
final round when his approach at No. 10 caromed off a tree and onto the
green, stopping 5 feet away for birdie. Duke became the oldest man to
notch his first win since 1995, when Ed Dougherty won in Mississippi at
age 47. That was one year after Duke turned pro, bouncing around the
developmental tours for a decade until earning his PGA TOUR card at age
35.
? STORYLINES: First-time PGA TOUR winners have been crowned in
each of the past four editions of the Travelers. Duke was preceded by
Marc Leishman (2012), Freddie Jacobsen ('11) and Watson. … Jimmy
Walker's 23-week run atop the FedExCup standings could be in jeopardy,
with Watson lurking less than 200 points behind Walker's pace. Walker is
taking a week off following the Open. ... Patrick Rodgers, who ended
his amateur career No.1 in the world rankings, is set to make his pro
debut. So are Bobby Wyatt, who helped Alabama to back-to-back NCAA
titles, newly crowned NCAA individual champion Cameron Wilson and U.S.
Amateur runner-up Oliver Goss.
? SHORT CHIPS: In the tournament's 61-year history, only Phil
Mickelson has managed to win consecutive titles (2001-02). … Just four
New Englanders have won in Hartford, though two came back-to-back in
2005 (Brad Faxon) and 2006 (J.J. Henry). The others are Paul Azinger
(1987, '89) and Bob Toski (1953) ... Kevin Ollie, who guided UConn to
the NCAA basketball championship three months ago, headlines the
Wednesday pro-am along with comedian George Lopez and ESPN's Chris
Berman.
Last week's winner DL817! Congrats!
Updated Standings
1. Bill - 6964
2. dfs - 6693
3. 2952 - 6482
4. NMT - 5789
5. Sea - 5696
6. Ocala - 5623
7. Bobcat - 5365
8. NiA - 5027
9. DL - 4672
10. 67810 - 4271
11. Lizard - 4250
12. Ed - 4052
13. pdubb - 2825
14.g2f - 2662
Good Luck!
This post was edited on 6/16 7:33 PM by DFSNOLE
This post was edited on 6/22 9:15 PM by DFSNOLE
Field
