We're on to the 2023 Travelers Championship after Wyndham Clark closed the door on the second — and biggest — win of his career as he captured his first major title at the U.S. Open from Los Angeles Country Club.
He hit every big shot that he needed on Sunday to beat Rory McIlroy by one shot, ending an interesting national open that was a bit controversial with a light atmosphere and a non-traditional U.S. Open course.
We are now three-quarters of the way through the major season, but the elevated events roll on and continue this week at the Travelers.
The Travelers Championship produced one of the more memorable finishes in 2022 as Xander Schauffele took advantage of a big mistake by Sahith Theegala on the 72nd hole to get off of a long drought for the win.
This year, seven of the top nine players in the world will tee it up at TPC River Highlands, with only LIV's Cam Smith and Jordan Spieth missing the tournament.
The course at TPC Rivers Highlands is a shorter, winding track that's more about positional play than it is a bomb and gauge. I'll be looking for in-form ball-striking types to target as odds come out Monday morning.
2023 Travelers Championship First Look
Tommy Fleetwood +3500 (PointsBet)
It's really hard to ignore the play Tommy Fleetwood has put together over the past few weeks. He certainly had to shake off some of the hangover that was his playoff loss at the RBC Canadian Open, and that led to a slow start at last week's U.S. Open.
Fleetwood got his game back in shape in style on Sunday at LACC, firing the round of the day with a 7-under 63 that was two shots better than the rest of the field. He still managed to leave at least one out there, too, as he totally yipped a short birdie putt to close his day at the 18th in what would've tied the Open low-round record of 62.
Tommy is playing some outstanding golf of late, and this is the right type of course for which to go back to the well on him. We get a solid number to start the week at +3500 for Fleetwood, who seems close to breaking through for that elusive first win stateside.
Pick: Tommy Fleetwood Outright |
Tom Kim +5000 (DraftKings)
Tom Kim and Collin Morikawa had me torn for the final spot on my three-man card. I'm going with Kim at double the odds, but I really think we are close to that breakthrough win for Collin as well.
Both players started to show their form over the weekend in L.A., and it was Kim who had the best round going on the most difficult day on Saturday. He ended up gaining 7.5 strokes on approach for the week and bolstered it by gaining 3.3 strokes on the greens.
He will need that exact type of play from both clubs this week if he wants to contend, but this is a course much better suited for his game. He'll have a great advantage with his accuracy off the tee and won't lose out to the longer hitters on this track.
This week will be a good test for Kim to see if he can continue to build on the form of last week's major and find a way to post another top finish on a course that's a great fit for his style of play.
Pick: Tom Kim Outright |
Russell Henley +7000 (PointsBet)
I'm going to roll over one of my favorite Sunday buys into the new week. Russell Henley had a nice week at the U.S. Open tee to green, especially when it came to hitting fairways, as he finished at the top of the field in that area.
He continued to play well in the final round and closed out a top-15 finish with a 2-under round on the last day.
The course at TPC River Highlands sets up to be a much better fit for the former Georgia Bulldog. He'll be able to take advantage of his accuracy off the tee and put himself in a spot to attack the greens. Henley has gained at least 2.9 shots on approach in each of his last five tournaments, and if he continues that this week, he could be in contention over the weekend.
We get a nice long number to start the week, and his combination of form and course history sets him up as my favorite longshot bet.
Pick: Russell Henley Outright |
