PGA First Look: Travelers Championship

The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.

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Event Preview

The U.S. Open was absolutely fantastic. That was the most fun I had watching a golf tournament this year. It had Sunday drama, it was competitive, the best golfers in the world struggled to shoot even par, big names missed the cut to tilt us DFS players, and everyone on Twitter nearly lost their mind when Phil Mickelson hit a ball while it was rolling off the green. I was pulling for Tommy Fleetwood when he made that Sunday charge, but you could feel the importance of his missed birdie putt on 18 when it happened. He ended up a stroke shy of Brooks Koepka, who has now won back-to-back U.S. Opens. In addition to the two major championships under his belt, Koepka has now finished inside the top 25 in 12 straight majors. There is no doubt that he plays his best golf on the biggest stages.

There is typically a hangover the week after majors, but we have a star-studded field on tap for the Travelers Championship. Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, and Brooks Koepka headline a field that includes 22 of the top 50 golfers in the world. The PGA Tour doesn’t have to travel far this week, as it’s a quick trip from the Hamptons to Cromwell, Connecticut. While travel isn’t a concern, fatigue may play a role this week for those golfers that played all four rounds at the U.S. Open. Major championships are generally a grind mentally and that was certainly the case last week with every golfer finishing over par for the tournament.

If we are comparing TPC River Highlands to Shinnecock, they are nothing alike other than the fact that they are both Par 70 layouts. This week’s course is a Pete Dye design that measures 6,841 yards, which is nearly 600 yards shorter than Shinnecock Hills. The greens are a mix of poa annua and bentgrass. The fairways aren’t extremely narrow, but they are tree-lined. You will need precision both off the tee and with your irons to compete here, but that doesn’t mean that we can only target accurate drivers of the ball. Most of the bombers will club down off the tee, which will naturally boost their driving accuracy for the week. This tends to be one of the lowest scoring events of the year, so you’ll have to rack up birdies to make the cut and to compete on the weekend.

When we have less than driver courses, I always lean toward strokes gained approach as my most important statistic. If everyone is playing from the same spots on the fairways, we want the golfers that will be the most accurate with their approach shots. We’ve seen a strong correlation between the winners here and greens in regulation, which is why it is listed as my third most important statistic of the week. Par four scoring will also be critical, as the golfers only have two par fives to feast on this week. If you want to break down par four scoring by distance splits, eight of the 12 measure between 400-450 yards. We’ve seen quite the mix of winners over the last few years, from long-hitting Bubba Watson to the accurate Russell Knox, so don’t rule anyone out based strictly on their style of play.

We received so much good feedback on my PGA model video last week that we have decided to bring it back as a weekly feature for premium members, so look for that to be posted on Wednesday.

Cut Rule: Top 70 and ties move on after the first two rounds. The MDF rule is in effect if more than 78 golfers make the initial cut.

Recent Winners of this Event: Jordan Spieth (2017), Russell Knox (2016), Bubba Watson (2015), Kevin Streelman (2014), Ken Duke (2013)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Par 4 Scoring
3) Greens in Regulation
4) Birdie or Better %
5) Strokes Gained Off the Tee (emphasis on accuracy over distance)

Hole by Hole Breakdown

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Salary OWGR Odds DK Odds FD Odds FDRFT Odds Cuts 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
Justin Thomas $11,500 $12,300 $17,600 2 12 0% 50% 0% 2/4 125 3 73 500 30
Brooks Koepka $11,300 $12,500 $17,500 4 15 -100% -300% -100% 2/2 500 9 500 51 500
Rory McIlroy $10,900 $11,800 $17,400 7 13 33% 50% 33% 1/1 17 500 500 500 500
Jordan Spieth $10,600 $11,500 $17,200 5 14 25% 50% 25% 1/1 1 500 500 500 500
Patrick Reed $10,000 $11,600 $17,000 11 17 0% 0% 0% 3/5 5 11 73 87 18
Jason Day $9,800 $11,900 $16,900 9 17 0% -100% 0% 1/2 92 500 500 18 500
Paul Casey $9,600 $11,200 $16,800 13 19 0% 22% 0% 3/3 5 17 2 500 500
Bryson DeChambeau $9,500 $11,400 $16,100 22 28 -25% -43% -11% 2/2 26 47 500 500 500
Marc Leishman $9,300 $11,200 $16,000 16 28 0% 0% 10% 5/5 17 9 39 11 30
Webb Simpson $9,100 $11,300 $16,200 21 24 20% 0% 0% 3/3 8 34 500 500 5
Ryan Moore $9,000 $9,800 $15,700 64 32 -18% 32% 0% 3/3 500 17 500 5 7
Daniel Berger $8,900 $11,100 $15,800 40 29 8% 0% 0% 2/2 2 5 500 500 500
Bubba Watson $8,800 $10,400 $15,800 20 30 8% 14% -9% 4/5 92 25 1 31 4
Charley Hoffman $8,700 $9,700 $15,100 37 44 -14% 27% 0% 4/4 3 25 500 26 7
Xander Schauffele $8,600 $9,600 $15,300 24 37 0% 38% -7% 1/1 14 500 500 500 500
Billy Horschel $8,500 $9,600 $14,600 89 57 -38% 8% -22% 1/1 500 500 25 500 500
Patrick Cantlay $8,400 $10,600 $15,200 30 33 18% -8% 7% 0/1 500 500 500 87 500
Brian Harman $8,300 $10,100 $14,600 28 51 -6% -19% -6% 4/5 35 118 3 42 51
Zach Johnson $8,200 $10,000 $14,500 54 57 -11% -24% -5% 3/5 120 47 6 125 58
Brandt Snedeker $8,100 $10,800 $14,400 90 61 -15% -92% -10% 3/3 14 500 10 11 500
Russell Knox $8,000 $9,800 $14,800 113 51 14% 5% -6% 4/4 62 1 500 61 13
J.B. Holmes $8,000 $9,900 $13,900 93 79 -33% -56% -8% 0/1 500 145 500 500 500
Keegan Bradley $7,900 $9,700 $14,300 70 64 -4% -9% -9% 5/5 8 25 39 31 18
Luke List $7,900 $9,800 $13,800 53 79 -26% -53% -7% 0/2 500 118 500 500 142
Jamie Lovemark $7,800 $8,900 $13,300 94 96 -48% 12% -6% 2/3 75 104 500 31 500
Patrick Rodgers $7,800 $8,900 $13,800 128 75 -8% 36% 0% 4/4 35 3 39 46 500
Emiliano Grillo $7,700 $10,200 $14,100 51 50 37% -13% 32% 1/1 43 500 500 500 500
Kyle Stanley $7,700 $8,900 $14,200 38 66 7% 40% -9% 2/5 57 148 20 104 110
Brendan Steele $7,600 $9,500 $13,800 52 68 10% 0% 4% 5/5 14 17 25 5 13
Cheng-Tsung Pan $7,600 $8,600 $13,600 183 83 -10% 33% -7% 2/2 8 500 25 500 500
Russell Henley $7,600 $9,300 $14,200 55 54 31% 33% 13% 1/1 500 11 500 500 500
Austin Cook $7,600 $9,200 $13,400 102 89 -24% -13% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Adam Hadwin $7,500 $9,400 $12,800 47 113 -30% -54% -2% 1/3 57 74 73 500 500
Nick Watney $7,500 $8,600 $12,700 96 120 -39% 4% -5% 3/3 73 500 39 11 500
Si Woo Kim $7,500 $9,000 $12,800 46 104 -24% -14% 2% 1/1 500 25 500 500 500
Danny Lee $7,500 $8,100 $10,300 142 102 -18% 42% 71% 2/3 3 500 25 87 500
Kevin Streelman $7,400 $8,300 $13,400 125 81 16% 47% 3% 2/5 8 134 73 1 146
Martin Laird $7,400 $9,100 $12,600 107 120 -24% -35% -2% 2/3 92 62 15 500 500
Graeme McDowell $7,400 $8,400 $13,400 173 87 8% 37% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Beau Hossler $7,400 $9,000 $13,600 88 79 19% 17% 0% 1/1 53 500 500 500 500
Jhonattan Vegas $7,400 $8,400 $12,500 67 137 -43% 2% -15% 2/3 120 500 54 31 500
Chesson Hadley $7,300 $9,500 $13,300 62 84 21% -27% 6% 0/2 500 104 500 104 500
Retief Goosen $7,300 $7,400 $12,300 289 142 -31% 48% -10% 3/3 62 47 500 51 500
Troy Merritt $7,300 $8,200 $12,300 330 129 -21% 18% -2% 2/4 8 88 73 67 500
Jim Furyk $7,300 $8,600 $12,400 264 129 -24% -8% -6% 2/2 26 5 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $7,300 $7,700 $12,500 112 127 -17% 42% -7% 1/1 17 500 500 500 500
Bill Haas $7,300 $9,400 $13,000 86 100 10% -36% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Trey Mullinax $7,300 $8,100 $12,500 166 128 -19% 25% -9% 0/1 86 500 500 500 500
Harris English $7,300 $8,200 $12,200 221 141 -29% 13% -4% 3/4 92 500 25 7 43
Chez Reavie $7,200 $9,300 $13,300 50 88 30% -17% 0% 4/4 43 47 25 500 43
Rory Sabbatini $7,200 $8,900 $12,900 153 114 12% -5% -7% 1/3 125 56 500 500 99
Joel Dahmen $7,200 $8,400 $12,100 382 163 -26% -17% -13% 1/1 62 500 500 500 500
Robert Garrigus $7,200 $7,700 $12,100 243 173 -34% 21% -20% 2/4 86 5 39 500 110
Keith Mitchell $7,200 $9,100 $10,300 136 116 10% -32% 67% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Spaun $7,200 $7,600 $11,900 147 177 -38% 28% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $7,200 $8,300 $11,800 235 199 -52% -31% -10% 0/1 139 500 500 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $7,200 $9,000 $12,200 98 146 -14% -58% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chris Stroud $7,200 $7,400 $11,700 203 217 -66% 21% -12% 4/4 500 38 10 18 2
Stewart Cink $7,100 $8,700 $13,000 149 108 29% 9% -11% 1/2 500 500 73 500 81
Kevin Tway $7,100 $9,000 $12,200 163 146 5% -56% -8% 2/2 43 500 500 26 500
Jason Kokrak $7,100 $7,800 $12,100 134 153 -3% 25% -9% 3/3 26 34 48 500 500
Nate Lashley $7,100 $7,800 $11,600 323 235 -47% -7% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tyrone Van Aswegen $7,100 $8,000 $11,300 295 250 -56% -31% -5% 3/4 92 5 60 26 500
David Lingmerth $7,100 $7,600 $11,800 230 193 -25% 23% -7% 2/3 26 500 64 87 500
Satoshi Kodaira $7,100 $8,300 $12,000 36 170 -10% -12% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Denny McCarthy $7,100 $8,200 $11,700 410 207 -34% -27% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Taylor $7,100 $7,700 $11,100 244 280 -75% -21% -5% 1/3 131 64 144 500 500
Michael Kim $7,100 $7,100 $11,500 435 248 -53% 27% -7% 1/2 69 88 500 500 500
Doug Ghim $7,100 $7,400 $11,400 257 -63% 9% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Corey Conners $7,000 $9,000 $11,700 338 205 -11% -117% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $7,000 $8,500 $10,300 216 147 17% -14% 57% 3/4 500 34 48 4 99
Pat Perez $7,000 $9,200 $13,000 35 103 43% -25% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Tyler Duncan $7,000 $7,600 $11,700 381 226 -20% 13% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Wesley Bryan $7,000 $8,500 $10,300 120 127 31% 6% 65% 1/1 74 500 500 500 500
Ted Potter $7,000 $7,700 $11,600 84 213 -16% 5% -3% 0/2 500 88 500 87 500
Ryan Blaum $7,000 $8,000 $11,900 293 182 -1% -1% -8% 0/1 139 500 500 500 500
Alex Cejka $7,000 $7,200 $11,400 265 250 -31% 21% -8% 2/3 84 11 144 500 500
Harold Varner $7,000 $7,900 $11,300 168 252 -34% -21% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $7,000 $7,700 $10,900 236 322 -60% -32% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kelly Kraft $7,000 $7,400 $11,200 176 267 -46% 3% -9% 0/2 86 128 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,900 $8,700 $12,100 231 153 26% -30% -7% 3/4 57 38 500 61 99
William McGirt $6,900 $8,200 $12,000 171 171 19% -6% -6% 4/4 43 500 25 31 30
Ryan Armour $6,900 $8,000 $12,100 154 176 16% 3% -21% 0/2 125 500 73 500 500
Ryan Palmer $6,900 $9,000 $12,200 133 148 27% -64% -13% 1/1 53 500 500 500 500
John Huh $6,900 $8,400 $11,300 212 252 -16% -74% -7% 1/5 107 104 73 114 79
Scott Stallings $6,900 $7,700 $11,600 159 214 -1% 4% -4% 0/2 107 74 500 500 500
Ben Martin $6,900 $8,000 $11,200 253 261 -21% -40% -4% 0/1 500 104 500 500 500
Tom Lovelady $6,900 $7,500 $10,800 317 334 -46% -17% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Every $6,900 $7,100 $11,000 620 291 -31% 15% -7% 1/3 35 500 89 500 132
Jonas Blixt $6,900 $7,100 $10,800 246 325 -40% 9% -5% 2/5 62 134 89 78 43
Cameron Tringale $6,900 $7,200 $10,600 429 376 -54% -8% -2% 0/1 500 500 500 500 84
Jonathan Randolph $6,900 $7,000 $10,700 378 375 -53% 9% -9% 1/2 134 500 60 500 500
Matt Jones $6,800 $8,100 $11,800 304 203 17% -15% -12% 2/3 500 64 89 46 500
Patton Kizzire $6,800 $8,200 $12,000 65 178 25% -13% -13% 1/1 53 500 500 500 500
Andrew Landry $6,800 $7,500 $12,100 72 158 33% 39% -11% 0/1 500 88 500 500 500
Abraham Ancer $6,800 $8,500 $11,600 200 209 14% -57% -1% 1/1 500 56 500 500 500
Seamus Power $6,800 $7,600 $12,000 309 166 31% 33% -3% 0/1 107 500 500 500 500
Nicholas Lindheim $6,800 $7,800 $11,700 298 227 9% -5% -15% 0/1 139 500 500 500 500
Talor Gooch $6,800 $7,200 $11,400 223 249 2% 22% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Lanto Griffin $6,800 $7,200 $10,700 337 319 -19% 4% 3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $6,800 $7,600 $10,900 271 318 -18% -15% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Dominic Bozzelli $6,800 $7,700 $11,000 290 293 -15% -26% -8% 0/1 131 500 500 500 500
Robert Streb $6,800 $7,400 $10,800 273 326 -24% -10% -6% 2/3 57 500 500 87 58
Martin Piller $6,800 $7,400 $10,700 257 359 -31% -16% -7% 0/1 500 128 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,700 $8,000 $11,800 175 194 29% -7% -9% 2/3 35 153 64 500 500
James Hahn $6,700 $8,300 $11,800 82 192 30% -26% -6% 1/2 500 118 500 77 500
Dylan Meyer $6,700 $8,000 $11,200 260 8% -39% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,700 $7,500 $11,000 406 283 0% -4% -6% 0/1 500 141 500 500 500
Brice Garnett $6,700 $8,000 $11,900 129 186 31% -3% -9% 2/2 500 500 20 75 500
Peter Malnati $6,700 $7,900 $11,200 618 233 18% -10% 9% 1/3 75 104 500 125 500
Jonathan Byrd $6,700 $7,100 $10,600 349 398 -22% -3% -4% 1/3 500 500 73 51 124
Blayne Barber $6,700 $7,200 $10,700 470 368 -17% -6% -8% 1/2 500 25 102 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,700 $7,100 $10,400 486 459 -23% -4% -2% 3/5 69 74 60 87 5
Derek Fathauer $6,700 $7,500 $10,700 302 343 -14% -19% -5% 0/3 125 88 102 500 500
Rob Oppenheim $6,700 $7,000 $10,700 314 384 -21% 7% -11% 0/1 500 74 500 500 500
Kyle Thompson $6,700 496 890 -43% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chad Campbell $6,600 $7,800 $11,600 332 242 25% -9% -11% 3/5 107 104 25 7 70
Mac Hughes $6,600 $7,100 $10,900 257 315 7% 12% -4% 1/1 17 500 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,600 $7,700 $11,300 637 262 15% -16% -13% 3/5 17 70 102 78 24
Fabian Gomez $6,600 $7,700 $10,800 677 325 3% -33% -5% 1/2 53 500 500 500 84
Padraig Harrington $6,600 $7,300 $11,300 252 247 24% 22% -1% 3/4 17 64 102 500 72
Will Claxton $6,600 705 -26% 0/1 500 500 500 500 110
Nick Hardy $6,600 $7,300 $10,100 477 -15% -18% 8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Steve Marino $6,600 $7,000 $10,400 751 473 -14% 2% -6% 1/2 500 74 500 51 500
Scott Brown $6,600 $7,000 $11,300 170 264 15% 26% -14% 2/3 500 25 54 78 500
Matt Atkins $6,600 $7,100 $10,400 530 519 -18% -11% -10% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Roberto Diaz $6,600 $7,100 $10,300 615 620 -24% -17% -7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Smylie Kaufman $6,600 $7,000 $10,100 415 652 -25% -7% -1% 1/2 35 141 500 500 500
Sam Saunders $6,500 $8,000 $11,000 194 266 22% -44% -2% 0/1 500 148 500 500 500
Brandon Harkins $6,500 $7,700 $11,000 242 280 20% -21% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,500 $7,700 $10,800 385 327 10% -36% -7% 1/3 134 11 500 114 500
Brett Stegmaier $6,500 $7,100 $10,400 898 466 -1% -5% -3% 1/2 26 152 500 500 500
Ken Duke $6,500 $7,000 $10,700 377 2% 7% -11% 3/5 107 88 10 46 1
Dou Zecheng $6,500 $7,100 $10,100 598 595 -11% -15% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Steve Wheatcroft $6,500 $7,200 $10,400 831 495 -5% -17% -8% 1/3 83 118 128 500 500
Sung Kang $6,500 $7,400 $11,000 135 293 17% -2% -8% 2/2 75 70 500 500 500
Ethan Tracy $6,500 $7,400 $10,700 520 341 8% -13% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jon Curran $6,500 $7,000 $10,400 566 -9% -4% -12% 1/3 500 74 10 500 84
Conrad Shindler $6,500 $7,200 $10,800 447 328 9% -1% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Rod Pampling $6,500 $7,000 $10,400 416 548 -9% -3% -11% 3/3 69 38 500 500 70
Brian Stuard $6,400 $7,900 $10,700 267 357 14% -55% -6% 2/5 143 38 25 114 124
Martin Flores $6,400 $7,200 $10,500 344 470 6% -14% -6% 0/3 125 500 102 500 118
Billy Hurley $6,400 $7,100 $10,300 511 586 -1% -15% -4% 1/3 92 104 500 57 500
Adam Schenk $6,400 $7,000 $10,400 360 495 4% 0% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Xin-Jun Zhang $6,400 $7,000 $10,200 364 597 -2% -6% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kris Blanks $6,400 991 -7% 0/1 500 500 500 78 500
Bob Estes $6,400 $7,000 $10,200 519 2% -1% 3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Geoff Ogilvy $6,400 $7,400 $10,400 444 468 7% -25% -4% 1/2 69 118 500 500 500
Greg Chalmers $6,400 $7,100 $10,400 547 491 4% -9% -7% 2/5 66 47 112 87 110
Andrew Yun $6,400 570 820 -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
D.A. Points $6,400 $7,000 $10,300 423 655 -4% -8% -8% 0/1 500 500 500 114 500
Adam D’Amario $6,400 $7,000 $10,000 1263 -8% -12% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500

Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.

Legend

Term Description
Site Odds The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better.
OWGR Official World Golf Ranking
Cuts Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons.
2013 – 2017 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.

About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on Twitter – @RG_Notorious