Travelers Championship preview: Can Rory McIlroy win maiden title in Connecticut?
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Odds and preview ahead of the next stop on the PGA Tour
The PGA Tour continues this week as the Travelers Championship returns to Connecticut.
Traditionally played after the US Open, which has been postponed until September, the Travelers Championship is the third PGA competition since golf returned from its enforced break.
The Charles Schwab Challenge kicked things off earlier this month before the RBC Heritage took place last week.
The tournament in Cromwell tends to favour putters, as it is often low scoring due to being the third-shortest course on the PGA Tour.
And as anticipation builds for the behind-closed-doors event, we’ve taken a look at who stands a chance of winning.
Will Rory McIlroy rediscover his form?
The world No.1 has often left the Travelers Championship out of his schedule. McIlroy made his first appearance at the competition in 2017 and has revisited just once, with 12th his best finish to date.
But the Northern Irishman will take to the course in Connecticut as he looks to justify his place at the peak of the rankings.
Before golf took a backseat, McIlroy had achieved six back-to-back top 10 finishes and was in good form with the Masters on the horizon.
But following golf’s restart, he’s managed a 32nd and 41st in his two outings. The 31-year-old was 10 shots behind winner Webb Simpson at last weekend’s RBC Heritage but he insists he’s ready to bounce back, suggesting TPC River Highlands course is more suitable for his game.
There’s no clear favourite for the Travelers Championship but McIlroy heads the betting at 12/1 and he’ll be keen to put his rustiness behind him and get back in the swing of things.
Who else is in contention?
The Travelers Championship glory has largely remained on home soil of late, with American golfers winning seven of the last eight titles.
Last year Chez Reavie came out on top but the 38-year-old is a longshot to repeat that feat this time, with our traders pricing him at 125/1.
Alongside McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Bryson Dechambeau are also going at 12/1. Thomas’ putting statistics put him at a slight advantage but Dechambeau is in good form, with a 10th and third-placed finish in the last two PGA events.
Following his win in the RBC Heritage, Simpson will fancy his chances of continuing his momentum at 18/1.
Meanwhile, three-time Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson is priced at 28/1.
View the latest golf odds.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
