As the 2025 Travelers Championship tees off at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, the excitement is palpable. This Signature Event, the final of eight on the PGA Tour this season, boasts a $20 million purse, with the winner set to take home a hefty $3.6 million. Defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is in the spotlight, aiming to defend his 2024 title, which he clinched in a thrilling playoff over Tom Kim with a 22-under-par 258. Scheffler’s dominance at this course is clear, having posted seven of his last eight rounds at 65 or better, underscoring his comfort and skill on this challenging layout.
TPC River Highlands has been the home of this tournament since 1984, evolving from the Greater Hartford Open and Buick Open to the Travelers Championship in 2007. The course is a par-70, measuring 6,844 yards, making it the shortest on the PGA Tour schedule in 2025. Despite its length, it remains a formidable test, especially with its tight 30-yard fairways and Pete Dye-designed finishing stretch from holes 15 through 18, which plays around a four-acre lake and offers risk-reward scenarios that have produced some of the tournament’s most memorable moments.
Players and fans alike revere TPC River Highlands. Keegan Bradley, the 2023 champion, calls it his favorite place to play in the world. Bradley set the tournament scoring record at 23-under in his winning year and has made 12 of 14 cuts here, earning nearly $5 million in career winnings at this venue. Jordan Spieth, who triumphed in 2017 after a memorable playoff, fondly recalls his victory and the course’s unique challenges. Even as equipment and technology push players to hit farther, the course continues to demand precision and strategy rather than just length.
In response to the evolving game, the PGA Tour and TPC River Highlands have made subtle adjustments to maintain the course’s challenge. For the 2025 event, a new tee box was added on the par-4 3rd hole, extending it by 15 yards and changing the shot shape required to navigate the fairway bunkers effectively. Gary Young, the PGA Tour’s senior vice president for rules and competitions, emphasized the importance of player feedback in these decisions, ensuring the course remains a fair but stern test.
Scottie Scheffler echoes this sentiment, stating that the course properly rewards good shots and punishes poor ones. He highlighted the closing stretch, where precise shot-making is essential, and expressed that the winning score isn’t the sole measure of a course’s quality. “The most frustrating thing for me when I play a golf tournament is when you see good shots not getting rewarded and bad shots not being punished properly,” Scheffler said. “That’s all we look for.”
The field for the 2025 Travelers Championship is stacked, featuring 72 players, including 44 of the top 50 from the Official World Golf Rankings. Alongside Scheffler, notable contenders include Rory McIlroy, who recently completed the career Grand Slam with his Masters victory in April. McIlroy, listed at 11/1 odds, faces scrutiny due to recent form and media comments suggesting his focus may be wavering. Golf expert Eric Cohen, known for his accurate betting predictions, is notably fading McIlroy this week despite his high profile and recent successes.
Other top contenders include Xander Schauffele, the 2022 Travelers champion, Collin Morikawa, Patrick Cantlay, and Viktor Hovland, all boasting strong recent performances and favorable odds. J.J. Spaun, fresh off his surprising U.S. Open victory at Oakmont as a 150-1 longshot, will also compete, though bookmakers have assigned him longer odds (+5000), possibly anticipating a major champion hangover.
Brian Harman emerges as a sleeper pick with compelling credentials at TPC River Highlands. With six top-10 finishes in his last seven trips and a victory at the 2025 Valero Texas Open, Harman’s consistency and putting prowess make him a player to watch. Eric Cohen highlights Harman’s track record at this course as a reason to back him despite recent mixed form.
The tournament’s opening round on June 19 features an early tee time of 8 a.m. and a final group off at 2:05 p.m., with all players starting from the first tee. Scheffler tees off in the third-to-last group at 1:35 p.m., paired with U.S. Open champion Spaun. Jordan Spieth follows shortly after, playing with sponsor’s exemption Luke Clanton. Rory McIlroy’s group, including 2023 champion Keegan Bradley, starts at 10:35 a.m. The weather forecast predicts a hot and humid day, with temperatures near 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a heat index climbing into the mid to upper 90s, accompanied by a chance of late-afternoon thunderstorms. Conditions are expected to improve over the weekend with sunnier skies and lower humidity.
Fan engagement is high, with sold-out events like the Signature Women’s Day Breakfast headlined by Today Show’s Hoda Kotb. Ticket options range from grounds tickets to premium hospitality experiences offering views of key holes and full-service amenities. The course provides multiple fan zones, bars, and lounges, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere throughout the four-day event.
Statistically, TPC River Highlands demands precision around its small greens, which average 5,000 square feet, the fifth smallest on the Tour. Strokes Gained data reveal that players excelling in approach shots and around the greens tend to perform well here. The course’s design encourages strategic play over raw power, with winning scores typically in the mid-teens under par. Notably, Jim Furyk’s historic 58 in 2016 remains the course record and the lowest round in PGA Tour history.
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Scheffler can continue his dominance, if McIlroy can reclaim his form, or if an underdog like Harman or Spaun will surprise the field. The Travelers Championship’s rich history, challenging layout, and star-studded field promise a compelling week of golf filled with drama, skill, and unforgettable moments.
