HARTFORD. Conn. – It’s early February, but the Travelers Championship got a major commitment nearly six months before the tournament even begins.
Rory McIlroy, one of the most charismatic and favorite golfers in the world, committed to play in Connecticut’s biggest sporting event June 22-26 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.
“Rory has been a wonderful ambassador for professional golf and creates excitement felt by millions of fans around the world whenever he plays,” tournament director Nathan Grube said in a statement. “Having a commitment from a player the caliber of Rory this early sets the tone for the type of field we’re expecting for this year’s Travelers Championship.”
Rory McIlroy owns 20 career PGA Tour victories including four major championships, and he will be making his fourth appearance at TPC River Highlands. His recent PGA Tour win in October at THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT, his second victory in 2021. In May, McIlroy won the Wells Fargo Championship for a third time. He first became a major champion at the U.S. Open in 2011, when he won by eight strokes and set a tournament record for lowest score in relation to par at 16-under. McIlroy won the PGA Championship in 2012, then took home two more majors in 2014, at the Open Championship and PGA Championship. At the Masters this year, McIlroy will attempt to become just the sixth player to achieve the career grand slam.
A 32-year-old from Northern Ireland, McIlroy was named PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2012, 2014 and 2019. He won the PGA Tour’s FedExCup points title in 2016 and 2019, has won seven tournaments on the European Tour and is a six-time member of the European Ryder Cup team. Currently No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, McIlroy has spent 106 weeks at No. 1 during his career.
McIlroy has improved his finish each time he has played the Travelers Championship. He tied for 17th in 2017, tied for 12th in 2018 and tied for 11th in 2020.
“I’m thrilled that Rory will be joining us this year, and I know he’s excited about coming back to play in front of the best fans in golf,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “Rory exemplifies the best golfers in the world who will be in our field, and by playing our event, he’s helping us achieve our goals of attracting thousands of fans and generating significant money for charity.”
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