Town, state officials laud Travelers

CROMWELL — Embraced by all 169 cities and towns in the state as “our tournament,” the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highland began a weeklong celebration of golf and Connecticut on Monday.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was present with a range of local and state officials during the opening ceremony, which was hosted by Tournament Director Nathan Grube.

A total of 156 players — including five of the Top 10 golfers in the world, led by Brooks Koepka, the backto-back winner of the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open — will compete for the $1.26 million first prize when the tournament begins Thursday.

Jordan Spieth, who won last year’s Travelers in dramatic fashion when he holed out a bunker shot to claim victory, is also scheduled to play.

Also committed to the tournament are Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson.

Flanked by Middlesex Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh and, among others, state Sen. Paul Doyle, D-Wethersfield, and Rep. Christie Carpino, R-Cromwell, and Cromwell Mayor Enzo Faienza, Grube said the definition of a ceremony is “a celebration of an event.”

And that, Grube said defines the tournament.

“What an event this is for the state,” he said.

The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors by the color guard from the Submarine Base in Groton and the playing of the national anthem by the Coast Guard Academy Band.

Making his last appearance at the TPC as governor, Malloy lauded the efforts of Grube and his staff and praised the businesses that help to support the tournament.

The result has been raising “well over $1 million a year,” ($1.7 million last year) which is used to support more than 100 charities.

Putting on the event of the size and scale of the Travelers is no small effort, Grube acknowledged.

He and his staff have already begun the work of organizing the 2019 tournament, a process he said takes 15 months.

Police Chief Denies Lamontagne meanwhile has issued an alert for residents and visitors to the tournament alike.

In calling on motorists to “drive carefully and safely,” Lamontagne said, “With the tournament becoming more and more popular each year since the Travelers became the title sponsor, there will be an increase in motor vehicle traffic on local roads.”

Consequently, “Motorists should expect more traffic when traveling on Route 99/Main Street between Court Street and the Rocky Hill town line,” Lamontagne said in a statement.

That traffic is expected to gradually become heavier beginning Wednesday and continuing through the weekend.

To deal with the traffic, “Our department will have officers expecting traffic in a well-marked traffic pattern in the area of the tournament parking along Route 99, north of Golf Club Road.

“Motorists are requested to reduce their speed in this area and to please pay particular attention to the traffic signs along the route, while carefully reading the signs before entering into the traffic pattern.”

“Local residents who do not plan to attend the tournament are encouraged to use alternate routes (including Interstate 91, Route 3 and Route 9) and should try to plan their trips accordingly.”