Travelers Championship 2025 Betting Tips: Straka to win on tour again?

After J.J. Spaun was a shock winner of a ridiculously tough US Open, it’s back to PGA Tour action this week, with an ill-timed final Signature Event of the season beckoning – as we head to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

Our resident golf tipster Jamie Worsley is, as always, ready with his deep-dive and well-researched preview. Six players stand out to him as each-way value this week, so let's check out his Travelers Championship Tips here at Betfred Insights...

*You can bet on the tournament and check out the latest Travelers Championship Odds over on betfred.com

At the end of a week that split opinion among fans and players alike, it was difficult to look away from a wholly captivating final round of the US Open at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday – one that ended with J.J. Spaun winning a maiden major title in extraordinary fashion.

Opening the event with a four-under 66 to take the first-round lead, Spaun began his week in the best possible way. He hung tough on this punishing course, following with rounds of 72 and 69 to enter Sunday's final round in 2^nd place, just one off the lead.

Chaos was the theme from the get-go on day four, as the main contenders struggled in arduous conditions. Although, it was Spaun who made the most grave start, bogeying five of his first six holes – including suffering an unbelievable piece of misfortune on the par-4 2^nd hole, as his approach hit the flag and raced all the way off the front of the green.

The conditions worsened and after a torrential downpour soaked the course, leaving standing water on many greens, the players had to come off the course. It would be over 90 minutes before play resumed, but Spaun looked a different beast upon the resumption, particularly finding his stride on the back nine.

This wasn't the case for overnight leader Sam Burns, and the man who shared 2^nd place thru 54 holes with Spaun, Adam Scott. Both continued to flounder after the restart and it instead fell to Brits, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton, to launch the strongest challenges – with Scotland's MacIntyre showing nerves of steel to birdie two of his final five holes and set the clubhouse target at +1.

However, Spaun wasn't to be denied. He birdied 12 and 14 and, after giving a shot back on the 15^th, he finished the event in style: first driving the green on the par-4 17^th before two-putting for birdie, then holing an incredible – and very much three-puttable – 64-footer on the 18^th hole to post -1 and win the trophy by two.

Spaun had been playing the best golf of his career in 2025, narrowly losing out to Rory McIlroy in a playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship – a defeat after which he remained admirably positive. He has now gained the ultimate compensation for that with a breakthrough major success, and he will almost certainly be further rewarded with a Ryder Cup debut at Bethpage Black later in the year.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY 

The Travelers Championship, one of the PGA Tour's most well-attended events, has been played every year since its 1952 debut and has called TPC River Highlands home since 1984.

Three-time major champion Billy Casper is the most successful player in the tournament's history, with four wins: coming in 1963, 1965, 1968, and 1973.

Bubba Watson is second on the list with three victories (2010, 2015, 2018) and there have been five two-time winners: Arnold Palmer (1956, 1960), Paul Azinger (1987, 1989), Phil Mickelson (2001, 2002), Peter Jacobsen (1984, 2003) and Stewart Cink (1997, 2008).

Meanwhile, history was made in the event in 2016, as Jim Furyk shot the first and as yet only 58 on the PGA Tour.

Last five winners:

• 2024

Winner: Scottie Scheffler (-22, playoff)

Runner-up: Tom Kim (-22)

• 2023

Winner: Keegan Bradley (-23)

Runners-up: Zac Blair, Brian Harman (-20)

• 2022

Winner: Xander Schauffele (-19)

Runners-up: JT Poston, Sahith Theegala (-17)

• 2021

Winner: Harris English (-13, playoff)

Runner-up: Kramer Hickok (-13)

• 2020

Winner: Dustin Johnson (-19)

Runner-up: Kevin Streelman (-18)

Scottie Scheffler won his sixth title of the year at TPC River Highlands in 2024, beating friend Tom Kim in a playoff. He returns to defend the title this week, looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Phil Mickelson in 2001/02.

THE COURSE

Golf has been played on this property since the 1920s, but the course was completely redesigned by Pete Dye in 1982 and titled the TPC of Connecticut. Bobby Weed then remodelled the layout in 1989, and it was renamed TPC River Highlands that same year.

Measuring 6844yds, this par 70 is one of the shortest venues on the PGA Tour, second only to host of the Bermuda Championship, Port Royal Golf Course. It possesses 4x par 3s (158-223yds), 12x par 4s (296-481yds) and 2x par 5s (523-574yds).

TPC River Highlands is a fun, balanced test – averaging a winning score of -17.2 over its last 10 renewals – and features an exciting risk/reward finish, with water in-play on four of the final six holes.

This tree-lined course is built on gently undulating terrain and has elevation changes throughout. The predominantly doglegged, sloping fairways are wide and with many players clubbing down for position around this diminutive layout, it's no surprise to see them rank as some of the easiest to find on the PGA Tour.

That being said, they're strongly protected by strategically placed, deep bunkers and with 4-inch-thick bluegrass/fescue rough offering added protection, you need to be in the short grass to score.

The largely elevated bentgrass/poa greens are small (averaging 5,000 sq. ft.) but are often receptive and easy to hit. Moderately sloping, they provide a demanding all-round short-game challenge. This is especially prevalent around the greens, with a mixture of rough, tightly-mown chipping areas and deep greenside bunkers combining to create the third-toughest course around-the-greens in the last three years.

After a rather unremarkable front nine, TPC River Highlands comes alive on the back nine, particularly on the three-hole stretch from 15-17, which all play around the same lake. It guards the left-hand side of the risk/reward 296yd par-4 15^th, sits short of the narrow green on the 171yd par-3 16^th, and flanks the right of the 431yd par-4 17^th –making for a potentially dramatic and exciting finish.

THE WEATHER

There has been plenty of rain in the area recently, and it is forecast to continue this week, with a lingering threat of thunderstorms during the tournament itself. That should result in a receptive course in Connecticut.

We could see some strong gusting winds over the first two days – at upwards of 20mph. However, these won't be constant and general speeds 4-8mph should pose no problem for the players.

KEY STATS

This is a challenge that gives everyone a chance, with the shorter, more accurate types not disadvantaged by a lack of length, and longer but less accurate players able to club down for position in the generous fairways. In the likely soft and scoreable conditions, the tournament will be decided by how players perform into and on the putting surfaces.

• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation/Proximity from 125-175yds

High-class iron play proved crucial last year – not least for winner Scottie Scheffler, who ranked 2^nd in greens-in-regulation and 6^th in approach. Runner-up Tom Kim ranked 1^st in GIR and 2^nd in approach. 3^rd-placed Tom Hoge ranked 1^st in approach and 3^rd in GIR, while fellow 3^rd-place finisher Sungjae Im ranked 4^th in each area.

2023 winner Keegan Bradley led the field in approach and ranked 6^th in greens-in-regulation. Eight of the top 12 ranked inside the top 10 in approach and nine were in the top 20 for GIR.

Of other recent winners: Xander Schauffele (2022) ranked 5^th in approach and 1^st in GIR; Dustin Johnson (2020) ranked 6^th in approach; Chez Reavie (2019) ranked 1^st in approach; Jordan Spieth (2017) ranked 9^th in approach; and Russell Knox (2016) ranked 5^th in approach and 8^th in GIR.

In addition, it's the wedges/short irons that hold sway, therefore, we should particularly focus on players who excel from 125-175yds.

• SG: Putting (bentgrass or bentgrass/poa)

Players who putt well on bentgrass should enjoy these greens, and there's rarely a winner here who doesn't have at least a solid week with the putter.

It wasn't the leading asset of the main contenders last year, but none of the top eight ranked worse than 26^th.

Keegan Bradley ranked 1^st on the greens in 2023; Xander Schauffele was 4^th with the putter in 2022; 2021 runner-up Kramer Hickock ranked 2^nd; and Dustin Johnson ranked 4^th when he walked away with the trophy in 2020.

• Birdie or Better %
• Par 4 Scoring

Scoring stats offer a simple, yet often worthwhile way into an event such as this. With that in mind, we can also look to prolific birdie-makers who excel on the par 4s – of which there are 12 on this layout.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

John Deere Classic (TPC Deere Run)

TPC Deere Run is an ideal comp for this week's test. This undulating, tree-lined course features frequent elevation changes, generous fairways, small bentgrass greens, four-inch-thick bluegrass/fescue rough, and it requires a strong wedge game to contend, with approaches from 125-175yds commonplace.

Notable correlating form:

Jordan Spieth:

Travelers (1^st) / John Deere (1^st, 1^st)

Kenny Perry:

Travelers (1^st) / John Deere (1^st)

Kevin Streelman:

Travelers (1^st, 2^nd) / John Deere (7^th, 8^th, 8^th)

Ryan Moore:

Travelers (2^nd, 2^nd) / John Deere (1^st, 2^nd)

Brian Harman:

Travelers (2^nd, 3^rd) / John Deere (1^st)

J.T. Poston:

Travelers (2^nd) / John Deere (1^st)

Chris Stroud:

Travelers (2^nd) / John Deere (4^th, 5^th)

Patrick Rodgers:

Travelers (3^rd) / John Deere (2^nd)

Danny Lee:

Travelers (3^rd) / John Deere (3^rd)

Michael Thorbjornsen:

Travelers (4^th) / John Deere (2^nd)

Hank Lebioda:

Travelers (5^th) / John Deere (8^th)

Scott Stallings:

Travelers (6^th, 8^th) / John Deere (4^th, 5^th)

Wyndham Championship (Sedgefield Country Club)

Sedgefield Country Club is a another short and tree-lined par 70. The fairways are narrower than at TPC River Highlands, but the driving test is similarly demanding. It also compares closely in difficulty around the greens and in approach – with that 125-175yd range important – as well as par 4 scoring.

Notable correlating form:

Tom Kim:

Travelers (2^nd) / Wyndham (1^st)

J.T. Poston:

Travelers (2^nd) / Wyndham (1^st)

Ryan Moore:

Travelers (2^nd, 2^nd) / Wyndham (1^st)

Brian Harman:

Travelers (2^nd, 3^rd) / Wyndham (3^rd, 6^th)

Sungjae Im:

Travelers (3^rd) / Wyndham (2^nd)

Kevin Kisner:

Travelers (5^th, 6^th) / Wyndham (1^st)

Brice Garnett:

Travelers (5^th) / Wyndham (6^th)

THE PLAYERS Championship (TPC Sawgrass)

There are several Pete Dye designs to choose from but it's PLAYERS Championship host, TPC Sawgrass that appeals most as a comp. The wedges are hugely important around this exciting risk/reward layout and the test around the greens poses a similarly tough challenge.

Notable correlating form:

Xander Schauffele:

Travelers (1^st) / PLAYERS (2^nd, 2^nd)

Kevin Streelman:

Travelers (1^st, 2^nd) / PLAYERS (2^nd)

Keegan Bradley:

Travelers (1^st, 2^nd) / PLAYERS (5^th, 7^th)

Brian Harman:

Travelers (2^nd, 3^rd) / PLAYERS (2^nd, 3^rd)

Tom Hoge:

Travelers (3^rd) / PLAYERS (3^rd, 3^rd)

Justin Thomas:

Travelers (3^rd, 5^th) / PLAYERS (1^st)

Sungjae Im:

Travelers (3^rd) / PLAYERS (6^th)

Kevin Kisner:

Travelers (5^th, 6^th) / PLAYERS (2^nd, 4^th)

Akshay Bhatia:

Travelers (5^th) / PLAYERS (3^rd)

Shriners Open (TPC Summerlin)

TPC Summerlin was designed by Bobby Weed – the man who renovated TPC River Highlands. This parkland course possesses a water-laden risk/reward finish and the bentgrass greens ask many of the same questions as this week; closely-ranked in approach – where the 125-175yd range is again vital – along with putting and around-the-greens difficulty.

Notable correlating form:

Kevin Streelman:

Travelers (1^st, 2^nd) / Shriners (2^nd)

Marc Leishman:

Travelers (1^st, 3^rd) / Shriners (3^rd)

Tom Kim:

Travelers (2^nd) / Shriners (1^st, 1^st)

Ryan Moore:

Travelers (2^nd, 2^nd) / Shriners (1^st)

J.T. Poston:

Travelers (2^nd) / Shriners (1^st)

Charley Hoffman:

Travelers (2^nd, 3^rd) / Shriners (4^th, 5^th, 6^th)

Beau Hossler:

Travelers (2^nd) / Shriners (7^th, 7^th)

Sungjae Im:

Travelers (3^rd) / Shriners (1^st)

Tom Hoge:

Travelers (3^rd) / Shriners (4^th, 7^th)

Patrick Cantlay:

Travelers (4^th, 5^th) / Shriners (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd)

Abraham Ancer:

Travelers (4^th) / Shriners (4^th, 4^th)

RSM Classic (Sea Island Resort)

I'm going to go a little left-field for my final comp course this week, with Sea Island Resort – host of the RSM Classic. Although the Seaside Course – which is played in three of the four rounds at this multi-course event – is more exposed than TPC River Highlands, it's a short par 70 with an equivalent ball-striking test, featuring generous fairways and an emphasis on approaches from 125-175yds.

Notable correlating form:

Brian Harman:

Travelers (2^nd, 3^rd) / RSM (2^nd, 4^th)

Daniel Berger:

Travelers (2^nd) / RSM (2^nd)

Sahith Theegala:

Travelers (2^nd) / RSM (2^nd)

Mackenzie Hughes:

Travelers (3^rd) / RSM (1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd)

Patrick Rodgers:

Travelers (3^rd) / RSM (2^nd)

Tom Hoge:

Travelers (3^rd) / RSM (4^th)

Will Gordon:

Travelers (3^rd) / RSM (10^th, 15^th)

Michael Thorbjornsen:

Travelers (4^th) / RSM (8^th)

Kevin Kisner:

Travelers (5^th, 6^th) / RSM (1^st, 2^nd)

THE FIELD

Our final Signature Event of the season welcomes each of the world's top 10, and 22 of the top 25. Scottie Scheffler leads the way as world No. 1, and the field also includes last week's triumphant US Open champion, JJ Spaun, who is up to a career-high No. 8 in the rankings.

Scheffler is of course the defending champion. He is one of just five former winners in the field, alongside Keegan Bradley (2023), Xander Schauffele (2022), Harris English (2021) and Jordan Spieth (2017).

The sponsor's exemptions include Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, and last year's runner-up, Tom Kim, whilst former No. 1 amateur Luke Clanton will make his second start since turning pro.

SELECTIONS

Market leaders (1/4 5 places): Scottie Scheffler 14/5, Rory McIlroy 11/1, Xander Schauffele 14/1, Collin Morikawa 18/1, Ludvig Aberg 25/1, Justin Thomas 25/,1 Patrick Cantlay 25/1

1.5 pts Sepp Straka each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 35/1

Sepp Straka was strongly fancied when missing the cut in last week's US Open. However, he hit the ball well, ultimately suffering a difficult two days on the greens – something I'm happy to forgive anyone on those challenging surfaces at Oakmont. He has a positive record at TPC River Highlands and in winning form this season, he's worth chancing for a third victory of 2025 this week.

Straka has recorded 10 top-15 finishes this year, including two victories: coming at the American Express, and four starts ago in the Truist Championship – another Signature Event. He's missed cuts in the PGA Championship and US Open since, but slotted between each of those performances was a commendable Signature Event performance – finishing 3^rd in the Memorial Tournament.

His iron play has been exceptional this season, ranking 2^nd in greens-in-regulation and 3^rd in approach, and he's particularly excelled in those important ranges this week, ranking 11^th from 125-150yds and 24^th from 150-175yds. In addition, he ranks 23^rd on the greens – recording his best display of the season on the bentgrass surfaces in the Truist Championship – and his strong all-round statistical profile is completed by rankings of 2^nd in birdie or better %, and 12^th in par 4 scoring.

Straka has played here on six occasions, producing a best of 10^th in 2021, and he was 23^rd last year. He's also a former champion of the John Deere Classic, strengthening his case for this test.

1 pt Hideki Matsuyama each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 50/1

Hideki Matsuyama hasn’t quite been at his best in recent weeks, arriving here having finished no higher than 36^th in his last four starts. That being said, he was excellent in approach at Oakmont last week, and he looks good value to build on that at TPC River Highlands.

Hideki won on his first start of the season in The Sentry and followed that by recording a further six top-25s in his next 10 starts. He missed the cut in the PGA Championship and finished mid-division in the Charles Schwab Challenge and the Memorial Tournament, before ending last week’s US Open in 42^nd place.

He struggled with the driver and putter there, but his iron play caught the eye, ranking 7^th in approach and 14^th in GIR. Approach has been a key area throughout the season, ranking 35^th overall and while the putter has been inconsistent, he is currently on for his best season on the greens since 2018.

Matsuyama only made his debut at this event in 2023, finishing 13^th, and he backed that up with an encouraging 23^rd-place finish last year – gaining strokes with the putter on each visit. He’s also amassed a great record at the Dye-designed TPC Sawgrass in THE PLAYERS Championship, hitting the top 10 on four occasions.

1 pt Daniel Berger each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 50/1

There was a lot to like about Daniel Berger’s performance in the US Open. He now returns to a course at which he’s previously finished 2^nd and usually at his best on these shorter, tree-lined tracks, I’m taking him to contend at TPC River Highlands.

Berger hit the top 25 nine times in his first 12 starts this season, recording bests of 2^nd in the Phoenix Open and 3^rd in the RBC Heritage. He has been less impressive in his last four starts, missing cuts in the Memorial Tournament and Charles Schwab Challenge, though his putter and long game did look sound at Oakmont, ranking 22^nd on the greens and 24^th in ball striking, helping him to a 46^th-place finish.

The American ranks 7^th from tee-to-green on the PGA Tour this season. I’m particularly keen on his approach numbers, ranking 21^st and it’s with the mid-irons he’s shone most, ranking 14^th from 150-175yds. As an excellent par-4 scorer – ranking 17^th – he has the game to go well at TPC River Highlands.

Berger has two top fives in just four starts at this course, finishing 2^nd in 2017 and 5^th in 2016. Each of his four tour wins have come on shorter/tree-lined courses, while he’s also finished 2^nd in the RSM Classic and possesses two top-10 finishes in THE PLAYERS Championship.

1 pt J.T. Poston each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 70/1

J.T. Poston is a former runner-up in this event and has some extremely attractive form at correlating courses. He’s now putting excellently after a slow start to the season and usually at his best in approach on these shorter setups, he can claim the biggest victory of his career this week.

Poston has been incredibly consistent in 2025, missing just two cuts in 18 starts. He’s had six top-25s and achieved the best major result of his career in the PGA Championship, finishing 5^th. He arrives after a 33^rd-place finish in the US Open, where he was among the best short-game players in the field, ranking 8^th around-the-greens and 12^th in putting.

He ranks 23^rd in this field in total strokes gained in the last three months and having lost strokes with the putter in each of his first seven starts to the season, he’s produced positive numbers in 10 of his last 11, ranking 5^th on the greens since March. His irons have gone off the boil in his last three starts, but it is usually a strength and especially on courses such as this.

Poston has won on three of the comp courses mentioned: TPC Summerlin (2024), TPC Deere Run (2022) and Sedgefield Country Club (2019). He’s gone close here, finishing 2^nd to Xander Schauffele in 2022 and with that recent major best still fresh in the memory, I believe he is capable of winning against a field such as this on a suitable layout.

1 pt Akshay Bhatia each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 70/1

Akshay Bhatia hit the top 25 in each of his two starts prior to missing the cut in the US Open. As mentioned with Straka, there’s no shame falling at the halfway mark at Oakmont, and in fine form with his irons, he can bounce back in Connecticut.

Bhatia enjoyed a great start to the season, finishing 3^rd in THE PLAYERS Championship and recording two further top-10 finishes in his first seven PGA Tour starts. He did hit a slump in form at the start of April, but he found his stride in the Charles Schwab Challenge three starts ago, finishing 22^nd, and he followed that with a 16^th-place finish in the Memorial Tournament – our previous Signature Event.

He's been largely excellent in approach this season, ranking 9^th in this field across the last three months. The wedges/mid-irons have been key, ranking 24^th from 150-175yds and 52^nd from 125-150yds. That being said, it’s the putter that he has relied on most this year, ranking 14^th on tour; this combination of quality in approach and on the greens has helped him rank 7^th in birdie or better %.

Bhatia immediately took to TPC River Highlands on debut last season, firing rounds of 64-65-64-69 to finish 5^th. That 3^rd-place finish at TPC Sawgrass earlier this year strengthens his Dye form and increases confidence that he can improve on that impressive debut effort last year.

1 pt Kevin Yu each-way (1/5 - 6 places) @ 110/1

Kevin Yu has produced his two best finishes of the season in his last four starts. He’s one of the strongest wedge players on tour and having made a taking debut at this course in 2023, I fancy him to make some noise at a big price this week.

Yu had a solid enough start to the year, recording four top-20 finishes in his first 10 starts, but he’s taken his form to another level in recent weeks. He achieved his then standout result of 2025 in the Myrtle Beach Classic four starts ago, finishing 4^th and went one better than that when we last saw him, finishing 3^rd in the Canadian Open.

He’s shone in ball striking, ranking 9^th off-the-tee, 16^th in greens-in-regulation and 27^th in approach, whilst proficiency with the wedges is represented by rankings of 6^th from 150-175yds and 28^th from 125-150yds. However, those two recent top-five finishes have been aided by quality on the greens, especially in Canada, where he ranked 6^th.

Yu was coming off an almost five-month absence when he debuted here in 2023 and made an eye-catching start, shooting rounds of 65 and 67 to enter the weekend in 10^th. He eventually dropped to 49^th by the end of the week – more than understandable in the circumstances – and having finished 6^th and 20^th on just two starts in the John Deere Classic, I’m convinced he will improve significantly on that previous finish.

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