Fantasy Golf: Travelers Championship preview

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The Today’s Golfer Fantasy Golf game, in association with Your Golf Travel, stays Stateside for this week for the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship.

For the third time in five years, the golfers that competed in the US Open will have embarked on a cross-country trip from the West Coast to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.

The host track is a par 70 that stretches 6,841 yards, the third-shortest on the PGA Tour schedule. With a scoring average of 68.57, it was the easiest of 16 par 70s in all of 2011.

Each of the last 18 winners of the Travelers have completed 72 holes double digits under par. In the second round a year ago, Patrick Cantlay recorded the low round of the year on Tour, signing for a 60 to establish the course record at TPC River Highlands.

The fairways and greens are among the easiest to hit, and the course has ranked inside the top half easiest in putting in each of the last four years. The primary objective is to avoid unforced errors.

Here is TG’s six-man team for the Travelers Championship:

Matt Kuchar, $3
The world’s seventh-ranked player hasn’t missed a cut since the Australian Open in December last year. Since then he’s had four top tens and a win at the Players Championship. Mr. Consistency is almost sure to contend this week where length isn’t a factor, although it will be his first appearance here since 2008.

Padraig Harrington, $2
After his tied-fourth finish at the US Open, Harrington admitted to preferring the marathon of a major to the sprint of a regular Tour event. His tied-eight at the Masters in April would back up this theory but he also has two other top-15 finishes in his last three regular PGA Tour events. Tied for fifth at the 2010 Travelers Championship.

Fredrik Jacobson, $2
The defending champion suffered one bogey at TPC River Highlands last year despite missing 20 greens in regulation. Faded to a T15 at last week’s US Open with a Sunday 75, but it was his third top 20 in his last six starts including the Masters (T19)

Ryan Moore, $1.6
Twice a co-runner-up here, including last year. In his last 12 rounds at TPC River Highlands, his actual scoring average is 66.17. He’s had the last two weeks off following a T38 at the Memorial. Posted a trio of top 10s in early spring.

Hunter Mahan, $2.8
The 2007 champion may not be setting the world alight right now but he hasn’t missed a cut since the European Tour’s Qatar Masters in February, has had two wins in his last 10 starts and currently ranks sixth in greens hit and 24th in adjusted scoring.

Michael Thompson, $1.1
Pretty straightforward choice, the U.S. Open runner-up tied for fourth at last year’s Travelers with a final round of 62 that included nine birdies. A very good putter and also ranks 49th in birdie average.

>>> You can see a full list of all the golfers playing this week and their prices by clicking here. You have until 3pm on Thursday 21st June to select your team.

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