The PGA Tour heads to Cromwell, Connecticut, this week for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, the final Signature Event of the 2026 season. Featuring a no-cut format, a $20 million purse, and 49 of the top 50 players in the world, this is one of the strongest fields of the year.
The only notable absence is Rory McIlroy, who has scaled back his PGA Tour schedule significantly in 2026 and will take several weeks off before returning for the Scottish Open and The Open Championship.
TPC River Highlands is a par-70 layout measuring just 6,844 yards, making it one of the shortest venues on Tour. Don’t let the yardage fool you; this is a complete test of golf. Pete Dye’s fingerprints are all over the design, with narrow fairways, penal rough exceeding four inches, and small, tiered green complexes that demand precision.
Driver is used on only about 59% of tee shots as players prioritize positioning over distance, and the rough consistently punishes those who miss fairways. The players who thrive here are the ones who find the short grass, attack with wedges, and convert their birdie opportunities.
The closing stretch is prone to cause some drama. Holes 15 through 17 all play around a four-acre lake and have produced some of the most dramatic finishes in recent Tour history. 16 of the last 22 editions were decided by a single stroke or in a playoff. The 296-yard drivable par-4 15th, the all-carry par-3 16th, and the demanding 17th form one of the most exciting finishing sequences anywhere in professional golf.
Headlining the field is World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who returns to a venue that has suited him well in recent years. He’ll be challenged by Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Jordan Spieth, and defending champion Keegan Bradley, among others. Putting will likely be the great separator this week, as nearly every contender will create plenty of birdie looks.
Picks to Win
Russell Henley 34/1
Russell Henley is a proven performer at shorter, accuracy-driven courses and quietly puts together strong results at events like this one. He won’t generate much buzz coming out of the U.S. Open, but his ball-striking and putting profile fit the course well. At longer odds than the big names, I simply cannot pass up on the upside.
Justin Rose 42/1
Justin Rose’s entire career tells the same story: when the stage gets bigger, he gets better. Major championships, elevated events, strong fields – Rose has a remarkable knack for showing up precisely for bigger events.
At a course that rewards intelligence, precision, and experience over raw power, his veteran savvy becomes a genuine weapon. He knows how to manage a tournament, protect a lead, and close. If he’s anywhere near the leaderboard heading into the weekend, he’ll have a great chance to win.
Alex Fitzpatrick 59/1
Alex Fitzpatrick is exactly the kind of player who thrives at a course like TPC River Highlands. He’s not going to overpower anyone, but he doesn’t need to. He beats courses with precision, creativity, and smart decision-making, which is the entire formula here. His ball-striking is clean, he shapes it both ways, and rarely beats himself up.
Coming off a strong U.S. Open showing, his confidence should be high, and his game is clearly in good shape. At a short, accuracy-driven course where wedge play and course management matter more than distance, Fitzpatrick fits the mold perfectly. He’s the type who can quietly go low on the weekend while nobody’s watching and suddenly be right there on Sunday afternoon. Must play for me at the number.
