|
The TOUR heads East to my part of the country for the Travelers Championship this week in Cromwell, CT at the TPC River Highlands. Last year Fredrik Jacobson notched is first career PGA Tour victory notched his 3rd PGA Tour victory, and he’s also coming off a T15 at the US Open last week, where who know what could have been if not for a Sunday 75. This week top amateur Patrick Cantlay is making is his first pro debut, deciding to come out of UCLA two years early. Last year Cantlay shot a second round 60 at the Travelers that got everybody’s attention.
The Picks
A Group – The A group is highlighted by many of the TOUR’s top players. Many of whom are coming off a grueling week in San Francisco last week. Webb Simpson is teeing it up, but I’m figuring on him being mentally and physically drained from last week. Instead I’ll start Matt Kuchar who continues to make cuts, where he made his 20th consecutive cut last week.
B Group -Starting in the B group I like the two most recent winners of the Travelers, Fredrik Jacobson (2011), and Bubba Watson (2010). As I expected, Bubba didn’t have a great showing at the Open. He has trouble finding fairways, and you can’t win U.S. Opens and not hit fairways. I expect him to bounce back this week. Jacobson was making a run for a while last week, until he was set back by a finishing round of 75. The short game master only made one bogey at the TPC River Highlands last year en route to his first PGA Tour victory.
C Group – Padraig Harrington shot a final round 68 last week to share a 4th place finish at the US Open. His game looks to be coming back in to form, and I like him as a serious contender for this year’s British Open. His last three finishes have gone T15, T13, T4. Lets hope that trend continues this week. Backing him up I like hometown New England guy James Driscoll. Driscoll shot all four rounds in the 60′s at last year’s Travelers and finished in a solo 5th. He’ll certainly have the hometown supporting crowd, along with Keegan Bradley, this week.
Starting Foursome: Matt Kuchar, Fredrik Jacobson, Bubba Watson, Padraig Harrington
On the Bench: Zach Johnson, Ryan Moore, J.J. Henry, James Driscoll