Rory McIlroy hopes to go one better after just missing out on US Open glory in Los Angeles last week.
Travelers Championship odds
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Travelers Championship betting preview
For the eighth time in the last 10 years, the Travelers Championship takes place a week on from the US Open.
For 2023 it’s been given ‘designated event’ status and that explains the huge $20,000,000 purse.
Rory McIlroy, who suffered heartache at Los Angeles Country Club last week when missing out by a shot to Wyndham Clark, tees it up again here.
As do the other five members of the world’s top six: Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele.
Schauffele took the trophy here 12 months ago in the most dramatic style. Sahith Theegala stood on the 18th tee leading by a shot but took two swings to get out of sand and carded a double bogey, allowing Schauffele to pinch victory.
The course is a par 70 designed by Pete Dye and is notable for being one of the shortest on the PGA Tour at just 6,852 yards.Â
Home American players have won nine of the last 10 runnings and each of the last six. The last overseas champion was Scotland’s Russell Knox in 2016.
Winning scores have varied from 12-under to 19-under during that decade.
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Memorial Tournament betting tips
Find our bets picks for the Travelers Championship.
Viktor Hovland can hit the heights again
Much was expected of Viktor Hovland in last week’s US Open as he headed to LA on the back of a superb win at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.
It didn’t work out. Apart from a hole-out eagle in round one, the Norwegian never got near the front of the leaderboard and had to settle for tied 19th.
But the fact that so many were disappointed by a top 20 in a major shows just how highly-rated Hovland is nowadays.
The upside of not being in contention last week is that he didn’t expend too much mental energy and that bodes well for a title challenge here.
Hovland opened with a 63 at this event the last time he played it in 2020 to sit second after 18 holes. He eventually finished tied 11th after shooting all four rounds in the 60s.
A far better player these days, he’s well worth an each-way bet at 16/1 with Spreadex (1/5 odds first 6).Â
Collin Morikawa can outscore Tony Finau
Collin Morikawa was one of just two players in last week’s US Open to shoot under par in each of the final three rounds.
That secured a top 15 finish so let’s back him to continue that momentum by beating Tony Finau in a 72-hole match bet.
Finau won April’s Mexico Open but has been subdued since: 72nd in the US PGA, missed cut at Colonial and tied 32nd in the US Open.
He’s also missed three of his last four cuts at this venue and never had a top 10 in seven appearances.
Austin Eckroat for Top 20
Austin Eckroat is one of the PGA Tour’s rising stars and continued his ascension with an excellent tied 10th in last week’s US Open.
That followed 30th at Memorial, 16th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and second in the Byron Nelson Championship.
How to watch the Travelers Championship
- Venue – TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
- Date – Thursday 22nd June – Sunday 25th June
- Broadcast – Full coverage on Sky Sports Golf: Thursday & Friday 8 pm – 11 pm, Saturday & Sunday 5 pm – 11 pm.
About the author
Dave Tindall is a former golf editor at SkySports.com and Golf365.com and has been writing betting previews for the PGA Tour and European Tour since 1997. He has also written for a range of betting companies, including William Hill and Betfair, as well as being a regular columnist for Rotoworld, The Guardian, Sporting Life, and Planet Sport. His other area of specialty is football while he’s also covered cricket and tennis.
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