HARTFORD, Conn. – Two players who have had memorable moments in the Travelers Championship are the latest to join the field for this year’s tournament.
Patrick Cantlay, ranked 15th in the Official World Golf Rankings, and Vermont native Keegan Bradley, who nearly won the event two years ago in front of hundreds of boisterous supporters, have committed to the $7.4 million tournament June 24-27 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.
“We’re adding two more great players to our field with Patrick and Keegan,” tournament director Nathan Grube said in a statement. “They both have a long history here, and a large number of fans who will be cheering them on at TPC River Highlands this year.”
Cantlay, 29, a three-time PGA Tour winner, made a splash in the Travelers as a 19-year-old in 2011 when he shot a 10-under-par 60 in the second round while playing on a sponsors’ exemption that was then the TPC River Highlands course record (Jim Furyk shot a Tour-record 58 in 2016) and remains the lowest score shot by an amateur in a Tour event. He tied for 24th that year, made his pro debut in Cromwell in 2012 and his best showing in six Travelers starts is a tie for 11th last year. His Tour victories came in the 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, the 2019 Memorial and 2020 ZOZO Championship.
Bradley, 34, a graduate of Hopkinton High School in Massachusetts, has four PGA Tour victories, including the 2011 PGA Championship in his rookie year. His 10 Travelers Championship appearances include a tie for second with Zack Suchar in 2019, when they finished four strokes behind winner Chez Reavie. Bradley also won the 2011 Byron Nelson Championship, 2012 Bridgestone Invitational and 2018 BMW Championship. He best finishes this year are second in the Valspar Championship and a tie for fourth with Brendan Steele in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the only team event on the PGA Tour. Bradley also played on the 2012 and 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup teams and the 2013 Presidents Cup.
“What Patrick did at the Travelers Championship in 2011 is unforgettable, and Keegan has played in the tournament for 10 straight years – I can’t wait to welcome both of them back,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “They’re PGA Tour winners with a track record of success in Connecticut, so they’ll definitely be two players to watch.”
Cantlay and Bradley join a field that includes other early commitments from defending champion and No. 1-ranked Dustin Johnson, No. 4 and reigning U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, No. 7 Brooks Koepka, who tied for second in the PGA Championship, No. 8 Patrick Reed, No. 18 Paul Casey, a frequent challenger in Cromwell who tied for fourth in the PGA, No. 19 Abraham Ancer, former No. 1 Jason Day, 2012 titlist Marc Leishman, former U.S. Open and Olympic titlist Justin Rose, Max Homa, Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson, who will try to tie World Golf Hall of Famer Billy Casper for most tournament wins (four).
After spectators weren’t allowed last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 10,000 can attend this year from pro-am day on June 23 through the four rounds of the tournament.
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