Travelers extends title sponsorship through 2030
Travelers has extended its title sponsorship commitment to Connecticut’s PGA Tour event, with the Travelers Championship adding six more years through 2030, Travelers announced in a virtual news conference Monday afternoon.
The announcement was made by Alan Schnitzer, the chairman and chief executive officer for Travelers. When the extension runs out, it will make Travelers the longest-running title sponsor in the tournament’s history, which dates to the Insurance City Open at Wethersfield Country Club in 1952.
“This tournament is important to so many people across the region, both as an economic driver for the state
and as a funding source for hundreds of charities and we are proud to continue its legacy for years to come,” Schnitzer said in a statement from Travelers.
In February 2014, Travelers extended its title sponsorship through 2024. Travelers has had title sponsorship of the tournament since 2007, taking over from Buick, which ran the event from 2004-06. The tournament has been a staple in Connecticut sports since its debut in 1952 as the Insurance City Open.
It was originally a fouryear title sponsorship commitment, then Travelers added four more years through to run through the 2014 tournament.
Gov. Ned Lamont and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan were on the call for the announcement by Travelers, in addition to Schnitzer; Andy Bessette, the executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Travelers; and Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube.
“This is going to be another shot in the arm going forward. I love this tournament,” Lamont said.
Said Monahan, a Trinity College graduate: “Your leadership and support make Travelers one of the premier events on the (PGA Tour) calendar.”
The Travelers Championship will be held June 24-27 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.
The Travelers didn’t have any spectators at last year’s event. It was the third tournament back after the PGA Tour resumed in June. The tour was off from midMarch to mid-June due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thanks to Gov. Lamont for the support and trust to contest last year’s championship in a safe and responsible manner. It’s a week I will never forget,” said Monahan, who was on site for the tournament.
Bessette and Grube remember standing at the 18th green when Dustin Johnson, who won last year’s tournament, was walking up.
“It was hard on Sunday afternoon when Dustin Johnson was coming up (to the green), there were 38 people. We counted,” Grube said.
Said Bessette: “It should have been the loudest road possible to hear. These are their (the fans’) memories. That was the hard part and fortunately, we won’t be in that situation this summer,” Bessette said.
The Travelers has yet to announce plans for spectator attendance for this year’s tournament, but anticipate having some each day. A number of tour events have had spectators at its tournaments thus far.
Grube did indicate that when tickets do go on sale, it will be a digital process rather than actually getting paper-based tickets.
Johnson has already committed to this year’s event, along with Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and three-time champion Bubba Watson.
In February, Travelers announced it would match any donations made up to $1 million to help The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp, one of Travelers’ primary beneficiaries. Travelers has generated more than $20 million for its charities since taking over title sponsorship.