The top of the oddsboard will look a little different this week as Justin Thomas became the latest player to withdraw from the Travelers Championship.
Thomas, who was +1200 to win the tournament, cited a back injury as his reason for skipping the event.
With just under a month before the Open Championship, Thomas is one of a few players electing to take the week off following the U.S. Open. Thomas joins Will Zalatoris, Russell Henley, Erik Van Rooyen and Patrick Rodgers as those to officially withdraw.
Oh, and Brooks Koepka, who is off to join LIV Golf.
Thomas was quick to quiet any speculation about his future, revealing he tweaked his back earlier in the week and is opting for rest and recovery.
With Thomas out, the odds on co-favorites Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler shortened. Both players dropped from +1000 to +900. Patrick Cantlay (+1400), Sam Burns (+1800) and Xander Schauffele (+2000) remain unchanged.
McIlroy and Scheffler both finished near the top at the U.S. Open. Scheffler fell one stroke short of a playoff with eventual winner Matthew Fitzpatrick. McIlroy finished in a tie for fifth, four strokes behind Fitzpatrick. McIlroy won the Canadian Open the week prior.
The 2021 Travelers Championship was won by Harris English (+4000) in a playoff over longshot Kramer Hickok. English is +10000 this week.
Bubba Watson is a three-time champion of the tournament but will not be teeing it up this week. Other past champions of the event in the field include Chez Reavie, Jordan Spieth, Russell Knox, Kevin Streelman, Marc Leishman and Stewart Cink.
