HARTFORD, Conn. – The Travelers Championship got another early Top-10 this week with a commitment from defending champion Xander Schauffele.
Schauffele, ranked sixth in the Official World Golf Rankings, joins No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who was No. 1 before Scottie Scheffler successfully defended in the WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 12.
As one of the PGA Tour’s new “elevated” tournaments, the biggest sporting event in Connecticut will have another strong field at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell on June 22-25. The event will have a record $20 million purse and at least 19 of the top 20 players in the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program, which ranks golfers by success and popularity.
“It’s always special having our defending champion in the player field because it brings back so many great memories,” tournament director Nathan Grube said in a release. “Xander had a spectacular 2022 that included an amazing week at the Travelers, and he’s continued to play at a very high level since then. Our fans enjoyed cheering him on to victory, and they’ll be ready to welcome him back as a big part of the tournament family.”
Schauffele, 29, a San Diego native, won the 2022 Travelers Championship in his fourth appearance when he birdied the 18th hole for a final-round, 2-under-par 68 and 72-hole total of 19-under 261, two better than J.T. Poston and Sahith Theegala, who double-bogeyed No. 18. Schauffele earned $1.5 million and later won the PGA Tour’s team event in New Orleans with close friend Patrick Cantlay and the Genesis Scottish Open. He tied for 18th or better in 10 of his final 11 PGA Tour events, which included three wins and three other Top-5 finishes. He also notched the clinching point for the United States in the Presidents Cup and has a tie for third in The American Express and a tie for ninth in the ZOZO Championship this season. He has 10 victories since turning pro in 2015, including seven on the PGA Tour, and won the gold medal in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
“Xander is a tremendously talented player, and it was exciting to see him win the Travelers Championship,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “He’s also an extremely tough competitor, and when it got close last year, Xander played his best and finished with a birdie. I’m looking forward to seeing him back in Connecticut, and I’m sure he’ll be even more motivated to defend his title against an incredible field.”
On the web: TravelersChampionship.com
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