There are a lot of ways to describe the 2019 Travelers Championship field. They all translate as strong.
When it kicks off on June 20 its players will include:
—16 of the top 25 players in the world
—11 the most recent 30 major winners.
—Every major winner from 2018
—The No. 1 player in the world, Brooks Koepka, who is a big part of all of the above.
Koepka is the golf world’s main topic of conversation these days, as in “How many majors can this guy win?” He promises to be a huge draw at the TPC River Highlands, June 20-23.
Fresh off his second consecutive PGA Championship victory at Bethpage, and his attempt to win a third straight U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach, Koepka leads a field filled not only with leading American players—Defending Champion Bubba Watson, five-time major winner Phil Mickelson, Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau, 2017 PGA Champion Justin Thomas, 2018 Masters Champion Patrick Reed, Keegan Bradley and Patrick Cantlay—but with a strong international flavor, as well. Open Champion Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, 2015 PGA Champion Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Louie Oosthuizen and Paul Casey are all here.
How entertaining can a golf tournament get?
“I am thrilled with how our field is shaping up this year,” said Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “Getting a commitment from Brooks to play was tremendous news,” said “And with 15 of the top 25 in the world committed at this point, I am excited for our fans and sponsors to see the competition.”
What’s more, this impressive group will this year find a facility that will match the strength of field. A new 40,000 square feet clubhouse, modeled after those of other TPC courses, with a private player dining room and family area, will welcome them.
“It is a big step forward for us,” said Grube. “We have had to build temporary structures all around the clubhouse in the past to make things work. All of that is gone now. The clubhouse is four times larger than it was and it gives us new and exciting opportunities around tournament week. The players are anticipating a very different experience and they will not be disappointed.”
The clubhouse includes Grill 58, named for Jim Furyk’s PGA record Sunday round here in 2016, and an interactive, touch-screen board where members can check out their own club champions or Travelers tournament history. It includes private dining and special family areas for the players.
“This is just one more notch on Travelers belt,” Bubba Watson, the three-time champion said on media day this month. “They can market everything they’ve done over the past 10 or 12 years for this tournament. Believe me, guys notice.”
Since the PGA Tour first came to Connecticut in 1952, more than $40 million has been distributed by the tournament to local charities. Sixteen million of that has happened since Travelers assumed sponsorship in 2007. In 2018, thanks in part to a donation of $200,000 by Bubba, who says he feels like he’s a part of the Travelers, the tournament raised $2 million for charity.”
