PGA Preview: 2020 Travelers Championship odds and picks

PGA Preview: 2020 Travelers Championship odds and picks

The PGA Tour saw an exciting RBC Heritage finish with Webb Simpson seemingly returning to form. Simpson finished one stroke better than Abraham Ancer at 22-under. That finish moved him up the favorites list for the Travelers Championship (+1800), but Rory McIlroy comes in at the top at +1200.

McIlroy did not show for me last week, as well as Jordan Spieth, but Bryson DeChambeau, and Brooks Koepka did with Justin Rose fading during the last round. You can read up on my 2020 RBC Heritage article for more information.

Now it is time to tee up for the 2020 Travelers Championship where another player packed field tees off without Tiger Woods. Nine of the top-ten players in the world are set to tee off at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Aside from Rory and Simpson, here’s how the top-five favorites (under +1800) to win the 2020 Travelers Championship round out.

Rory McIlroy +1200

Justin Thomas +1200

Bryson DeChambeau +1400

Webb Simpson +1800

Jon Rahm +1800

The stand out stat this week is that ten players that have won the Travelers are returning, including Chez Reavie, who is the defending champ.

Bubba Watson won three times - 2010, 2015 and 2018. Phil Mickelson won twice in 2001 and 2002, as did Stewart Cink in 1997 and 2008. Players, aside from Reavie, that have won once are Jordan Spieth 2017, Russell Knox in 2016, Kevin Streelman 2014, Marc Leishman 2012, Hunter Mahan 2007, and J.J. Henry back in 2006.

 


2020 Travelers Championship Info

Where: Cromwell, Connecticut

When: June 25th – 28th, 2020

Course: TPC River Highlands

Par: 70

Length: 6,844

Slope: 131

Defending Champ: Chez Reavie

Purse: $7.4 million

TV Coverage: CBS/Golf Channel


 

The Travelers Championship is teeing off on its originally schedule date unlike the last two tournaments that have been played following the COVID-19 shutdown. The course (River Highlands) is located on bluffs overlooking the Connecticut river and includes gently rolling terrain with immaculately trimmed fairways and rough.

Fairways vary between wide-open spaces to dense patches of trees protected by scenic water hazards and well-placed deep bunkers. Greens (Bermuda) are large at first glance but have tight landing areas. Pin placement will be key.

I mentioned that 9 of the top-ten were playing this week. Rory McIlroy No. 1, Jon Rahm No. 2, Justin Thomas No. 3, Brooks Koepka No. 4, Dustin Johnson No. 5, Patrick Reed No. 6, Patrick Cantlay No. 7, Webb Simpson No. 9 and Xander Schauffele at the No. 10 spot.

 


Travelers Championship | DFS Preview & Picks 2020


 

Top Picks to win the 2020 Travelers Championship

Bryson DeChambeau +1400

I try not to pick the same player two weeks in a row, but Bryson DeChambeau has worked for me several times this season.

DeChambeau finished three of his four rounds last week under 67 and that’s a trend he’s pulled off all season. And, just in case you’ve not heard – or seen – DeChambeau has beefed up during the COVID-19 break like he was shooting for a body building championship.

His drives have been crazy long – and that will be a plus at the Travelers.

Brooks Koepka +2000

Brooks Koepka comes in at one of his best numbers this season, +2000, with a side note.

He’s been high up the favorites list a few times, but he looks as if he was still nursing his injuries from last season. Last week at the RBC Heritage he looked like his old self, carding a 7th place finish.

Bubba Watson +2800

I’ve talked myself out of Bubba Watson a few times this season, but when it comes to the Travelers it is hard to put him on the sidelines.

Watson won this tournament in 2018, 2015, and 2010. Plus, he’s been close at the line several times, including a T2 finish in 2012. 

Others I like to win the 2020 Travelers Championship

I’m pushing Rory McIlroy out of my mind this week and that may come back to bite me. But for this week, the two other players I like are Dustin Johnson and Abraham Ancer.

Both played well last week and have steadily improving over the course of the season, including after the COVID-19 break.


Odds to win Travelers Championship outright

Rory McIlroy +1200

Justin Thomas +1200

Bryson DeChambeau +1400

Webb Simpson +1800

Jon Rahm +1800

Brooks Koepka +2000

Patrick Cantlay +2200

Justin Rose +2500

Dustin Johnson +2500

Xander Schauffele +2800

Bubba Watson +2800

Patrick Reed +3300

Collin Morikawa +3300

Paul Casey +3300

Abraham Ancer +3300

Sungjae Im +3300

Jordan Spieth +4000

Gary Woodland +4000

Sergio Garcia +4000

Matthew Fitzpatrick +4000

Tony Finau +5000

Marc Leishman +5000

Joaquin Niemann +5000

Viktor Hovland +6600

JT Poston +6600

Scottie Scheffler +6600

Ian Poulter +8000

Brian Harman +8000

Corey Conners +8000

Kevin Kisner +8000

Joel Dahmen +10000

Louis Oosthuizen +10000

Billy Horschel +10000

Jason Day +10000

Branden Grace +10000

Jason Kokrak +10000

Keegan Bradley +10000

Ryan Palmer +10000

Byeong-Hun An +12500

Kevin Streelman +12500

Patrick Rodgers +12500

Kevin Na +12500

Shane Lowry +12500

Rafael Cabrera Bello +12500

Chez Reavie +12500

Phil Mickelson +14000

Brandt Snedeker +14000

Ryan Moore +14000

Matthew Wolff +15000

Charley Hoffman +15000

Russell Henley +15000

Max Homa +15000

Bud Cauley +17500

Zach Johnson +17500

Beau Hossler +17500

Matt Wallace +17500

Russell Knox +17500

Cameron Champ +17500

Dylan Frittelli +17500

Cameron Smith +17500

C T Pan +17500

Danny Lee +17500

Tyler Duncan +20000

Jim Furyk +20000

Harry Higgs +20000

Stewart Cink +20000

Vaughn Taylor +20000

Sebastian Munoz +20000

Brendon Todd +20000

Harold Varner III +20000

Jhonattan Vegas +20000

Lucas Glover +20000

Matthew Nesmith +20000

Luke List +20000

Wyndham Clark +20000

Charl Schwartzel +20000

Joseph Bramlett +20000

Graeme McDowell +20000

Doc Redman +20000

Talor Gooch +20000

Brendan Steele +20000

Emiliano Grillo +20000

Mackenzie Hughes +25000

Cameron Tringale +25000

Kevin Tway +25000

Luke Donald +25000

Carlos Ortiz +25000

Kyle Stanley +25000

Danny Willett +25000

Aaron Wise +25000

Brice Garnett +25000

Matthew Jones +25000

Si-Woo Kim +25000

Mark Hubbard +25000

Michael Thompson +25000

Troy Merritt +25000

Tom Hoge +25000

Sung Kang +30000

Lanto Griffin +30000

Scott Stallings +30000