PGA First Look: Travelers Championship

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

If you’re looking for more in-depth golf betting tips, check out our breakdown of the course and the PGA odds for the 2019 Travelers Championship.

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Event Preview

Before we get into this week’s event, we have to talk about the year’s third major. Gary Woodland seems like a world class human being and he’s now a major winner on the PGA Tour. He was terrific on all four days. Besides the walk off 30 footer for birdie on 18 on Sunday, I will remember the two great par saves on Saturday. He chipped one in and made a long putt on another. He managed to hold off Brooks Koepka, who is easily the scariest golfer on tour. It’s hard not to root for Brooks, as he is willing to speak his mind, he oozes confidence, and he has the game to back it up.

As far as the course setup, I always want the U.S. Open to play difficult. There wasn’t a whole lot that the USGA could do to make the course tougher other than not watering the greens and at that point, it becomes a slippery slope. There was little to no wind all four days and we rarely saw the sun. With no wind and no sun, the course didn’t have much of a defense outside of the rough. Overall, it produced a great leaderboard and some of the best views in all of golf. I’ll leave the complaining for everyone else.

This week we head to Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship. TPC River Highlands is a Par 70 that measures 6,841 yards. It has produced quite the mix of winners over the years, ranging from Bubba Watson to Russell Knox. The fairways here are tree-lined, but they are quite wide (37 yards on average). You can be aggressive off the tee, but you don’t have to hit driver on every hole to compete on a 6,800 yard course. The key to the course (and to most courses) is good iron play. I will be placing a heavy emphasis on ball striking this week.

The greens themselves are average size and feature bentgrass/poa grass. Scoring here all depends on the weather. In benign conditions, you will see a lot of birdies. In fact, this is where Jim Furyk shot a 58. When the wind is up, the course can have some teeth. Over the last five years, the course has ended up right around the PGA Tour average in terms of difficulty. The course was designed by Pete Dye if you want to play into that narrative. From a length perspective, eight of the par fours measure between 400-450 yards.

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: Bubba Watson (2018 & 2015), Jordan Spieth (2017), Russell Knox (2016), Kevin Streelman (2014)

Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)

1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Strokes Gained Off the Tee
4) Bogey Avoidance
5) Strokes Gained Putting (Emphasis on Bentgrass)

Sports Betting Card

We didn’t hit any outright bets, but we did lock up a Gary Woodland top five finish at 12/1. We came close to a Jim Furyk top 20, but an even round on Sunday left him with a T28 finish. We did hit Chez Reavie for a top 20 at 8/1, so it was a solid week overall. We had 13 units in play and brought back 20. We are back to +5 units overall on the season. Let’s keep it rolling for the Travelers Championship. I’m feeling really good about Jason Day this week, so if you want to just hammer that bet at 18/1, I fully support it.

YTD: 5 wins, +5 units

Outright Bets

Jason Day 18/1
Marc Leishman 28/1
Emiliano Grillo 50/1
Charley Hoffman 60/1

Top 5 Bets

Russell Knox 11/1
Charley Hoffman 14/1
Lucas Glover 14/1

Top 20 Bets

Mackenzie Hughes 5/1
Matt Jones 5/1
Sam Ryder 8/1
Hank Lebioda 9/1
Boo Weekley 25/1

Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2014-2018)

Golfer DK Salary FD Salary FDRFT Sal OWGR Odds DK % FD % FDRFT % Cuts 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Brooks Koepka $11,800 $12,600 $18,700 1 7 0% 0% 0% 3/3 19 500 9 500 51
Patrick Cantlay $11,300 $11,500 $17,600 8 10 0% 0% 0% 1/2 15 500 500 500 87
Paul Casey $9,500 $11,300 $16,300 15 17 43% 0% 43% 4/4 2 5 17 2 500
Justin Thomas $9,800 $11,200 $16,400 7 18 17% 0% -25% 2/4 56 125 3 73 500
Jason Day $10,000 $11,100 $16,400 18 18 -40% -17% -75% 2/3 12 92 500 500 18
Emiliano Grillo $7,900 $9,900 $14,000 55 53 18% -6% 18% 2/2 19 43 500 500 500
Tommy Fleetwood $9,300 $10,700 $15,700 20 27 -13% 0% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Jason Kokrak $8,300 $9,300 $14,000 69 67 -44% 10% -18% 3/4 125 26 34 48 500
Francesco Molinari $10,300 $11,000 $16,400 6 18 -50% 14% -50% 2/2 500 500 47 25 500
Russell Knox $7,700 $9,700 $13,800 71 65 7% -19% 7% 4/4 38 62 1 500 61
Chez Reavie $8,400 $9,900 $14,200 48 53 0% 0% 6% 3/4 75 43 47 25 500
Lucas Glover $7,500 $9,300 $13,400 80 79 9% -7% -3% 0/2 500 107 500 89 500
Jordan Spieth $10,700 $11,400 $17,100 29 15 0% 0% 0% 2/2 42 1 500 500 500
Tony Finau $9,000 $10,600 $15,600 16 29 -9% -20% -20% 3/3 500 17 25 25 500
Kevin Streelman $8,200 $9,500 $14,100 92 60 -16% 12% -5% 3/5 33 8 134 73 1
Byeong Hun An $7,800 $9,600 $13,800 53 65 0% -4% 11% 1/1 500 66 500 500 500
Bryson DeChambeau $9,200 $10,800 $15,800 10 26 11% 0% 0% 3/3 9 26 47 500 500
Marc Leishman $9,100 $10,500 $15,600 23 28 0% 9% 0% 4/5 102 17 9 39 11
Charley Hoffman $8,100 $9,700 $14,300 76 56 5% 10% -12% 4/4 15 3 25 500 26
Keegan Bradley $7,700 $9,600 $13,400 40 78 -11% -30% 0% 5/5 47 8 25 39 31
Adam Hadwin $7,600 $9,500 $13,700 74 70 3% -16% 0% 2/4 42 57 74 73 500
Louis Oosthuizen $8,800 $10,400 $15,600 21 30 0% -8% -30% 1/2 500 500 17 112 500
Patrick Reed $8,500 $10,300 $14,900 25 42 6% -15% 0% 2/5 75 5 11 73 87
Nick Watney $7,200 $8,500 $12,600 147 122 -2% 0% -4% 3/4 75 73 500 39 11
Joaquin Niemann $7,500 $8,400 $13,100 125 87 0% 35% 3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bubba Watson $8,900 $10,200 $15,500 22 29 8% 21% 15% 4/5 1 92 25 1 31
Ryan Moore $7,800 $9,400 $14,000 79 60 4% 15% -5% 2/3 87 500 17 500 5
Daniel Berger $8,000 $9,800 $14,200 98 59 0% -11% -17% 3/3 67 2 5 500 500
C.T. Pan $7,600 $8,900 $13,400 51 85 -10% 11% -10% 2/3 102 8 500 25 500
Brandt Snedeker $8,600 $10,000 $15,100 44 38 7% 13% 0% 3/4 130 14 500 10 11
Viktor Hovland $7,900 $9,800 $14,200 58 9% -5% -11% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Russell Henley $7,500 $9,100 $13,100 173 90 -9% -12% -6% 2/2 6 500 11 500 500
Sungjae Im $7,800 $9,200 $13,900 64 70 -13% 13% -8% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Vaughn Taylor $6,700 $8,100 $11,700 188 189 6% -26% -1% 4/4 47 57 38 500 61
Joel Dahmen $7,200 $8,600 $12,600 81 124 -4% -9% -6% 1/2 75 62 500 500 500
Mac Hughes $7,100 $8,300 $12,500 200 131 2% 4% -4% 2/2 42 17 500 500 500
Collin Morikawa $6,900 $8,700 $12,200 738 128 22% -21% 7% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Matt Jones $6,900 $8,500 $12,400 186 134 18% -12% -4% 3/4 19 500 64 89 46
Kevin Kisner $7,700 $9,400 $13,900 27 70 -4% -4% -12% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Andrew Putnam $7,600 $8,400 $13,100 50 90 -20% 31% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Bud Cauley $7,600 $9,200 $13,300 148 85 -7% -3% 3% 3/3 500 35 70 500 11
Hank Lebioda $6,700 $7,600 $11,700 375 206 -1% 2% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sepp Straka $7,100 $8,100 $12,100 312 150 -17% -3% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Peter Malnati $6,900 $7,900 $12,100 217 159 0% 7% -8% 2/4 26 75 104 500 125
Kevin Tway $7,400 $8,800 $13,100 103 93 0% 5% -9% 3/3 6 43 500 500 26
Trey Mullinax $6,800 $8,000 $11,900 232 166 8% -3% 3% 1/2 67 86 500 500 500
Sung Kang $7,300 $9,100 $12,900 61 99 5% -24% 2% 2/3 151 75 70 500 500
Troy Merritt $7,100 $8,300 $12,100 180 147 -13% -11% 2% 2/5 125 8 88 73 67
Abraham Ancer $7,400 $8,900 $13,000 63 94 -3% -5% 0% 1/2 75 500 56 500 500
Max Homa $7,200 $8,000 $12,300 93 137 -19% 14% -6% 0/1 500 500 500 112 500
Kyle Stanley $7,300 $8,900 $12,800 56 103 -2% -19% 0% 3/5 15 57 148 20 104
Jonas Blixt $6,800 $7,900 $11,700 207 178 1% -1% 4% 1/5 144 62 134 89 78
Sebastian Munoz $7,200 $8,200 $12,200 216 138 -21% 0% -4% 1/1 500 75 500 500 500
Brian Stuard $7,000 $8,200 $12,200 156 147 -3% -7% -11% 2/5 111 143 38 25 114
Danny Lee $7,500 $8,600 $12,900 111 101 -24% 9% 0% 3/4 15 3 500 25 87
Phil Mickelson $8,700 $10,100 $14,700 26 46 -14% -7% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Burns $7,000 $7,700 $12,000 121 158 -10% 19% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Sam Ryder $6,800 $7,700 $11,400 189 211 -15% -5% 3% 1/1 26 500 500 500 500
Dylan Frittelli $7,100 $8,000 $12,200 112 136 -4% 15% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
J.B. Holmes $7,300 $9,000 $12,700 52 110 -5% -29% 0% 1/2 2 500 145 500 500
Si Woo Kim $7,400 $8,800 $13,000 58 101 -13% -8% -10% 2/2 26 500 25 500 500
Harold Varner $7,100 $8,300 $12,000 170 156 -20% -18% 2% 0/2 75 92 500 500 500
JT Poston $7,000 $8,000 $11,800 169 181 -25% -14% -3% 0/2 138 120 500 500 500
Austin Cook $6,900 $8,600 $12,300 151 134 19% -17% 0% 0/1 102 500 500 500 500
Aaron Baddeley $7,000 $8,000 $12,000 184 175 -20% -9% -9% 3/4 130 500 34 48 4
Peter Uihlein $7,000 $7,900 $12,200 127 145 0% 17% -7% 0/1 500 500 500 112 500
Denny McCarthy $6,700 $7,800 $11,700 165 192 5% -1% -3% 1/1 47 500 500 500 500
Cameron Tringale $6,700 $7,600 $11,700 427 198 1% 5% -7% 1/1 69 500 500 500 500
Ryan Armour $6,500 $7,700 $11,400 126 227 10% -9% 0% 1/3 56 125 500 73 500
Adam Schenk $6,600 $7,500 $11,500 242 227 2% 1% -1% 0/1 121 500 500 500 500
Kiradech Aphibarnrat $7,100 $8,100 $12,500 49 125 6% 16% 0% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Harris English $7,000 $7,800 $11,900 291 169 -17% 9% 0% 2/4 144 92 500 25 7
Kyoung-Hoon Lee $7,200 $8,100 $12,100 246 150 -33% -5% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Harman $7,400 $9,000 $13,200 100 89 8% 0% -3% 4/5 6 35 118 3 42
Scott Stallings $6,800 $7,500 $11,700 145 200 -11% 8% -8% 1/3 38 107 74 500 500
Jim Knous $6,300 $7,000 $10,600 447 331 -7% -9% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Nick Taylor $6,900 $8,100 $11,800 231 169 -4% -15% 4% 1/4 130 131 64 144 500
Brandon Harkins $6,200 $7,400 $10,900 355 281 16% -11% 2% 1/1 38 500 500 500 500
Chesson Hadley $7,400 $8,500 $12,600 84 119 -26% 2% -2% 0/3 102 500 104 500 104
Cameron Smith $7,200 $8,700 $12,600 36 114 4% -7% 2% 2/2 500 500 34 39 500
Kramer Hickok $6,500 $7,500 $11,600 209 222 11% 2% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Beau Hossler $7,300 $8,800 $12,700 113 116 -9% -18% -4% 2/2 2 53 500 500 500
Tyler Duncan $6,400 $7,400 $11,300 396 253 12% 0% -2% 1/1 33 500 500 500 500
Shawn Stefani $6,500 $7,400 $11,300 302 258 1% -4% -7% 1/4 121 134 11 500 114
Matthew Wolff $7,300 $8,700 $13,000 96 7% 7% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Laird $7,000 $8,400 $12,200 279 144 2% -13% -5% 3/4 61 92 62 15 500
J.J. Spaun $6,800 $8,000 $11,800 157 179 0% -12% -1% 1/1 47 500 500 500 500
Andrew Landry $6,700 $7,200 $11,300 154 256 -16% 6% -4% 0/2 144 500 88 500 500
Benjamin Silverman $6,500 $7,200 $11,300 373 250 7% 10% 0% 0/1 111 500 500 500 500
Ollie Schniederjans $6,700 $7,100 $11,400 261 236 -10% 14% -2% 0/1 87 500 500 500 500
Scott Brown $6,800 $8,200 $11,600 237 197 -8% -38% 6% 3/4 47 500 25 54 78
Adam Long $6,400 $7,000 $11,000 114 305 -2% 4% -4% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Carlos Ortiz $6,400 $7,700 $10,600 269 253 12% -15% 24% 1/2 500 500 17 128 500
Cameron Davis $6,300 $7,000 $10,500 208 369 -13% -15% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Josh Teater $6,500 $7,000 $10,900 409 313 -13% 1% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brian Gay $6,700 $7,900 $11,700 142 206 -1% -15% -9% 1/3 500 120 88 500 71
Brendan Steele $6,700 $7,800 $11,900 199 183 7% 1% -9% 4/5 75 14 17 25 5
Boo Weekley $6,200 $7,000 $10,400 970 366 -4% -14% 2% 1/2 500 5 74 500 500
Cameron Champ $6,800 $7,800 $12,000 122 166 8% 12% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Alex Prugh $6,800 $7,500 $11,300 413 252 -24% -3% -1% 0/2 500 500 500 102 150
Sam Saunders $6,100 $7,100 $10,700 335 319 14% -8% 3% 1/2 47 500 148 500 500
Adam Svensson $6,000 $7,000 $10,400 484 444 3% -23% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Roger Sloan $6,200 $7,400 $10,800 276 297 13% -15% 8% 0/1 500 500 500 128 500
Fabian Gomez $6,100 $7,000 $10,600 499 378 2% -16% -6% 2/2 19 53 500 500 500
Bronson Burgoon $6,200 $7,000 $10,600 197 392 -7% -17% -7% 0/2 87 500 141 500 500
Hudson Swafford $6,200 $7,200 $10,500 287 325 4% -17% 7% 3/4 500 66 38 89 24
Wyndham Clark $6,400 $7,100 $10,900 277 322 -8% -9% -9% 0/1 500 150 500 500 500
Anirban Lahiri $6,900 $7,600 $11,700 257 195 -18% 7% -4% 2/2 9 17 500 500 500
Tom Hoge $6,500 $7,100 $10,900 328 313 -13% -6% -6% 2/4 75 35 153 64 500
Brice Garnett $6,500 $7,000 $10,700 191 322 -16% -2% 3% 2/3 111 500 500 20 75
Brandon Hagy $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 792 441 -4% -22% -5% 0/1 500 92 500 500 500
Seamus Power $6,600 $7,300 $11,300 288 256 -6% 2% -4% 1/2 36 107 500 500 500
Richy Werenski $6,300 $7,000 $10,900 230 334 -8% -10% -17% 1/2 26 139 500 500 500
Hunter Mahan $6,300 $7,000 $10,900 438 306 4% 3% -4% 3/5 56 17 70 102 78
Roberto Diaz $6,300 $7,000 $10,700 610 363 -11% -13% -9% 0/1 111 500 500 500 500
Wes Roach $6,600 $7,000 $11,100 414 284 -16% 7% -3% 1/2 500 500 88 500 61
Ryan Blaum $6,300 $7,000 $10,900 333 322 0% -2% -9% 1/2 12 139 500 500 500
Patton Kizzire $6,400 $7,300 $11,300 118 267 7% -2% -9% 1/2 121 53 500 500 500
Zack Sucher $6,200 $7,900 $10,400 505 338 -2% -74% 4% 0/2 500 107 500 112 500
Julian Etulain $6,200 $7,000 $10,400 360 403 -10% -21% -4% 1/1 500 75 500 500 500
Curtis Luck $6,600 $7,300 $11,200 481 273 -13% -5% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
J.J. Henry $6,000 $7,000 $10,400 654 450 1% -25% -8% 3/5 42 69 74 60 87
Chris Stroud $6,400 $7,000 $11,300 210 270 5% 10% -11% 3/4 111 500 38 10 18
Nicholas Lindheim $6,200 $7,000 $10,500 431 359 -2% -13% 1% 0/2 75 139 500 500 500
Joey Garber $6,300 $7,000 $10,900 405 334 -8% -10% -17% 0/1 500 500 500 500 125
Stephan Jaeger $6,900 $7,300 $11,700 292 216 -28% 11% -13% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Kelly Kraft $6,500 $7,000 $10,700 195 328 -23% -8% -3% 1/3 47 86 128 500 500
Jose de Jesus Rodriguez $6,300 $7,000 $10,900 418 327 -5% -7% -14% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Chase Wright $6,000 $7,000 $10,400 370 444 3% -23% -6% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Alex Cejka $6,000 $7,000 $10,400 510 397 6% -20% -3% 3/4 33 84 11 144 500
Sang-Moon Bae $6,600 $7,600 $11,200 357 269 -11% -18% -1% 1/2 500 500 500 128 24
Anders Albertson $6,100 $7,000 $10,300 319 503 -9% -29% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Brady Schnell $6,200 $7,000 $10,400 435 434 -11% -21% -5% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Robert Streb $6,600 $7,200 $10,700 289 311 -22% -9% 6% 1/3 87 57 500 500 87
Scott Langley $6,400 $7,100 $11,100 256 289 1% 0% -4% 2/2 500 500 500 25 11
Whee Kim $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 245 394 0% -18% -2% 0/3 500 107 148 112 500
Cody Gribble $6,100 $7,000 $10,400 766 394 0% -18% -2% 0/1 500 107 500 500 500
Morgan Hoffmann $6,300 $7,000 $10,700 1092 322 0% -2% 3% 3/4 500 26 145 39 67
Colt Knost $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 513 -2% -29% -2% 1/2 500 500 134 39 500
Jim Herman $6,000 $7,000 $10,200 1172 538 -3% -30% 1% 1/3 500 92 500 68 141
Fredrik Jacobson $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 563 -4% -31% -4% 1/2 500 500 88 500 31
Seth Reeves $6,000 $7,000 $10,400 571 469 0% -27% -9% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Padraig Harrington $6,600 $7,100 $11,100 268 259 -9% 7% 3% 3/4 74 17 64 102 500
Chris Thompson $6,100 $7,100 $10,200 434 617 -14% -43% -2% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Justin Suh $6,400 $7,000 $10,900 294 0% 5% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
John Chin $6,000 $7,000 $10,200 615 628 -6% -35% -3% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Martin Trainer $6,100 $7,000 $10,300 166 459 -7% -26% 1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Satoshi Kodaira $6,600 $7,000 $10,900 88 325 -31% -5% -12% 0/1 154 500 500 500 500
Rod Pampling $6,000 $7,000 $10,200 996 609 -5% -33% -1% 2/3 87 69 38 500 500
Kyle Jones $6,000 $7,000 $10,300 458 491 -1% -28% -1% 0/0 500 500 500 500 500
Michael Kim $6,100 $7,000 $10,200 401 584 -12% -32% -1% 1/3 111 69 88 500 500
Chris Tallman $6,100 $7,000 $10,100 1100 -15% -36% 0% 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 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.
2014 – 2018 Columns Course history at this event in the last five seasons.
Cover Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images

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