Cantlay latest top player to commit to tourney
The Travelers Championship has added another player in the top six of the current world rankings with the announcement on Tuesday that No. 4 Patrick Cantlay will join the field for the 2023 tournament at the Tournament Players Club at River Highlands.
With still more than three months before the June event Travelers now has Cantlay along with No. 2 Scottie Scheffler, No. 3 Rory Mcilroy and No. 6 Xander Schauffele.
The field will no doubt continue to grow in stature as this year’s tournament has been designated an elevated event that will feature a $20 million purse. It takes place June 22-25, the week following the U.S. Open in Los Angeles.
“Having played in our tournament several times, Patrick is always an exciting addition to the field,” Travelers tournament director Nathan Grube said in a release. “He seems to be in contention every time he plays and will fit in perfectly with the other elite golfers who have already committed.”
Cantlay, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour and a former PGA player of the year, will be making his ninth appearance in Connecticut. He finished in a tie for 13th in 2022 after a final-round 6-over-par left him at 10-under. Though he has finished in the top 15 or better in each of his last five River Highlands starts, Cantlay’s most memorable round came in 2011 when, as a 19-year-old amateur, he shot a 10-under 60 in the second round which remains the lowest singleround score by an amateur in tour history.
Cantlay’s best season came in 2021 when he won the Fedex points title and was named the player of the year.
“We’ve known Patrick really well ever since giving him a sponsor’s exemption when he was a student at UCLA, and he’s turned into one of the best golfers in the world,” said Andy Bessette, a Travelers executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Travelers. “His continued support of the Travelers and what we stand for as a community partner is greatly appreciated.”