Power Rankings: Travelers Championship 2024
After a pair of challenging tests and to cap off the series of Signature Events, it’s perfect timing for the Travelers Championship. A field of 71 is promised a scorable track at TPC River Highlands, four rounds on it, and beefier FedExCup points. Below are the power rankings for the tournament.
15. Shane Lowry (IRE)
- Comment: Backdoored a T19 at the U.S. Open with a 1-under 69 in the finale. The week overall was a continuation of form that reignited on the Florida Swing and contributed to victory in New Orleans. Also placed T6 at the PGA Championship.
14. Sahith Theegala (USA)
- Comment: Although his only pair of top 30s in his last six starts were T12s, and his best performances this year have occurred on difficult tracks, he still possesses the firepower to contend at will. Case in point, he finished T2 here two years ago.
13. Tony Finau (USA)
- Comment: Co-led the U.S. Open on Sunday with a 67 (to finish T3). Now has two straight top 10s and four straight top 20s. Despite a scoring average of 68.58 in 26 rounds at TPC River Highlands, he’s been limited to four top 25s (and zero top 10s).
12. Viktor Hovland (NOR)
- Comment: The good news about his missed cut at the U.S. Open is that he’s rested and free from the stresses of contending in the major. He shot himself out of the tournament with an opening 78 but responded strongly with a second-round 68.
11. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN)
- Comment: Dismissed concerns about his health with a T8 at the Memorial and a solo sixth at the U.S. Open. Those results align with early-season successes, including a victory at The Genesis Invitational. T13 in Travelers debut a year ago.
10. Corey Conners (CAN)
- Comment: With his brand of ball-striking, you knew that he wouldn’t go 0-fer in the U.S. Open forever, but last week’s T9 was his first payday in six tries in that major. He’s now cashed in 24 straight starts since a T9 at last year’s Travelers.
9. Keegan Bradley (USA)
- Comment: He’s the defending champ but his title near home in New England is an achievement that most professional golfers never experience. That’s one injection of confidence. So is the absence of the pressure to do it at all. Fun times, no doubt.
8. Russell Henley (USA)
- Comment: Shared the low round at Pinehurst on Sunday with a 67 to secure a career-best T7 in his 11th U.S. Open. He’s scattered five top 10s among eight top 25s this year. Also 5-for-6 at TPC River Highlands with a T6 (2018) among four top 20s.
7. Brian Harman (USA)
- Comment: The lefty is third in all-time earnings at the tournament and the only non-winner of it among the top nine. Since 2015, he’s connected for six top 10s, the highlight a T2 last year. His scoring average in his last 22 rounds here is 67.
6. Sam Burns (USA)
- Comment: His recurring theme is that he has quietly converted now six top 10s. The latest is a T9 at the U.S. Open where his putting was on point. The aggressive 27-year-old is benefited by tamer targets on approach at TPC River Highlands.
5. Ludvig Åberg (SWE)
- Comment: If it weren’t real, you’d laugh. Barely a year removed from college and already No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Now he’s fresh off a T12 at the U.S. Open where he held the 36-hole lead. Second appearance at the Travelers (T24, 2023).
4. Collin Morikawa (USA)
- Comment: Try this for size: He missed the cut at last year’s Travelers despite a bogey-free, 7-under 63 in the second round. That’s how one bad round (an opening 74) can ruin a week, but consistency since the 2024 Masters has been sublime.
3. Scottie Scheffler (USA)
- Comment: Gasp. Who knew that he had a T41 in him at a major? That’s golf and that’s the U.S. Open for ya. He’s been challenged by heavier weights than that in recent weeks, so it truly would be a jaw-dropper if he didn’t fire it back up immediately.
2. Patrick Cantlay (USA)
- Comment: With a T3 at the U.S. Open, he came close to answering pal Xander Schauffele’s major breakthrough. Now Cantlay can feast on TPC River Highlands where he’s been a regular since 2018 with six top 15s and a scoring average of 67.17.
1. Xander Schauffele (USA)
- Comment: The last two weeks were his first two starts as a major champion, and he delivered a T8-T7 extension. Arguably in the best place of a sparkling career that includes a victory at TPC River Highlands in 2022. It’s one of four top 20s.
Event Insights:
- Field: 71 players
- Course: TPC River Highlands, par 70, 6,835 yards
- FedExCup Points: 700 to the winner
- Weather: Temperatures in the mid-90s, with potential rain and storms leading into Saturday, and highs in the upper 80s for the final rounds.
TPC River Highlands promises a scorable track, especially welcome after the challenging conditions at the U.S. Open. This event gives players a chance to showcase their scoring prowess and gather crucial FedExCup points as the season progresses.
