The U.S. Open has come and gone, and the PGA Tour season rolls on. It heads across the country to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship, set to tee off from TPC River Highlands. Although this is not a major, it is an elevated event with a massive $20 million prize pool. This brings in a ton of big names and a lot of options for One and Done. Here are a few names worth considering this week for Travelers Championship One and Done selections.
Travelers Championship One and Done Picks and Targets
There are some reasonable knocks against Patrick Cantlay, as he is super talented but has not broken through yet in majors or in the winner’s circle this year. He is one of the most consistent golfers on tour, however, and that is useful when looking at potential One and Done targets. Cantlay has not missed a cut in months and is coming off another quality showing, with a 14th at the U.S. Open. Cantlay is peppering the top-10 and -20 boards every event but needs to find some more upside.
Heading to the Travelers, Cantlay is mirroring his recent form in of his course history. He has finished around 15th, give or take a few spots, five straight years at this event, and the ball-striking numbers jump off the page. Last year he was in contention until a final-round 76 dropped him down the board. Fire up Cantlay with confidence here if he is available, as he checks most of the boxes this week.
The concept of an against-the-grain pick in One and Done can go a bunch of different ways. You can target a quality golfer who is playing extremely poorly like Justin Thomas or a lesser-known name who probably isn’t on the radar of most people. Brian Harman is more the latter, and although his course history is notable, most will look elsewhere since it’s an elevated event full of top-tier names.
Harman gained four strokes on approach last week en route to a made cut, but now he heads to a comfortable venue. He has four top-10 finishes here over the last five years, and this course absolutely suits Harman’s game given the lack of driving distance needed. If he continues to roll in putts, there is no reason he cannot once again find himself among the leaders this week.
Ben Rasa’s One and Done Pick: Hideki Matsuyama
The fact that there are so many ways to go this week in One and Done speaks to the quality of field and the course allowing so many skillsets to thrive. It depends on who is available and place in the standings, but Hideki Matsuyama checks a ton of boxes. Although he finished middle of the pack last week at the U.S. Open, that does not tell the full story. Matsuyama gained almost nine strokes on the approach but wasted most of it by losing six strokes putting. Matsuyama has been known to do that, but it is still encouraging to see the irons at such a high level. He has never played here, so it is a mystery whether he likes these greens, but if he does, watch out for Matsuyama this week.
