Story perspectives

Scheffler Leads Travelers Odds as McIlroy Skips

6/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 Travelers Championship starts Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on the par-70, 6,844-yard TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+440), the 2024 champion, leads the Tour in shots-gained and says rain-softened conditions still demand birdies.
Rory McIlroy skips the $20 million event, his third absence this year, while Xander Schauffele (+1500), Tommy Fleetwood (+1600), Ludvig Aberg (+1800), Wyndham Clark (+3000) and Keegan Bradley (+5500) round out the odds.

History

Historical Context

Since the Greater Hartford Open moved to the newly built TPC River Highlands in 1984 and later became the Travelers Championship, the tournament has grown from a modest regional stop to a marquee event. Jim Furyk’s 58 in 2016 set the tour’s lowest 18-hole score, and the purse’s rise to $20 million for 2026 pressures top players like world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to prioritize it.

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Story summary

The 2026 Travelers Championship starts Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on the par-70, 6,844-yard TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+440), the 2024 champion, leads the Tour in shots-gained and says rain-softened conditions still demand birdies.
Rory McIlroy skips the $20 million event, his third absence this year, while Xander Schauffele (+1500), Tommy Fleetwood (+1600), Ludvig Aberg (+1800), Wyndham Clark (+3000) and Keegan Bradley (+5500) round out the odds.

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