10 players to watch
Here’s a look at 10 players Hearst Connecticut Media’s Joe Morelli says to keep an eye on at this year’s Travelers Championship along with a dark horse pick to be a contender.
JUSTIN THOMAS
Age: 25 2018 Season: Won the Honda Classic and the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, placed second in the WGC-Mexico Championship and finished fourth at the WGCDell Technologies Match Play. World Rank: No. 2
FedEx Cup Rank: 4 Victories: 8
Top 10 finishes: 33
Previous Travelers appearances: 4 Best finish: Tie for third in 2016
Career Majors (1): 2017 PGA
Career highlights: 2017 FedExCup champion; took over world’s top ranking for first time in May; tied the U.S. Open single-round scoring record with a 63 in last year’s third round; played for the United States in last fall’s Presidents Cup.
Morelli’s take: Missed the cut last at Travelers, the first of three straight. Thomas should fare much better this time around, as his tie for third two years ago at TPC River Highlands will attest to.
JORDAN SPIETH
Age: 24 2018 Season: Four Top 10 finishes ... Was third at the Masters; tied for third at Houston Open. World Rank: No. 4
FedEx Cup Rank: 32 Victories: 14
Top 10 finishes: 56 Previous Travelers appearances: 1 Best finish: Won (2017)
Career Majors (3): 2015 Masters, 2015 U.S. Open, 2017 Open Championship
Career highlights: 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year ... 2015 PGA Player of the Year ... 2015 FedEx Cup Champion ... Vardon Trophy winner (2015, 2017) ... Byron Nelson Award winner (2015, 2017)
Morelli’s take: Hit the shot of the year on the PGA Tour in 2017, holing a bunker shot to beat Daniel Berger in a sudden-death playoff. Contention again? Yes. Win? Won’t be easy to repeat, considering his struggles on the greens.
RORY MCILROY
Age: 29 2018 Season: Won the Arnold Palmer Invitational; tied for fifth at the Masters World Rank: No. 6
FedEx Cup Rank: 31 Victories: 23
Top 10 finishes: 63 Previous Travelers appearances: 1 Best finish: T17 (2017)
Career Majors (4): 2011 U.S. Open, 2014 Open Championship, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championship
Career highlights: PGA Tour Player of the year in 2012 and 2014; formerly the world’s top-ranked player; 2016 FedExCup champion; has played in the last four Ryder Cups for Europe.
Morelli’s take: No one better when he’s on his game, including Dustin Johnson. But he struggles to put it all together all four days (see the final round of the 2018 Masters and his 80 in the opening round of this year’s U.S. Open). Shot a 64 in the final round last year at Travelers even when he struggled to find his putting stroke.
JASON DAY
Age: 30
2018 season: Won at both the Farmers Insurance Open and the Wells Fargo Championship; finished tied for second at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am; tied for fifth at the Players Championship World Rank: No. 8 FedEx Cup Rank: 4 Victories: 15
Top 10 finishes: 66 Previous Travelers appearances: 3 Best finish: Tie for 18th (2014) Career Majors (1): 2015 PGA Career highlights: Vaulted to No. 1 in the world rankings in October of 2015, then held it for 11 months from 2016-17; played on four Presidents Cup teams; won the 2016 Players Championship
Morelli’s take: Day missed the cut at last year’s Travelers. He fares better on harder courses, although he didn’t show it this week, missing the cut at the U.S. Open. Has the ability to go low and be in contention on the weekend.
BROOKS KOEPKA
Age: 28 2018 Season: Placed second at the Fort Worth Invitational and tied for second at the WGC-HSBC Champions. World Rank: No. 9
FedEx Cup Rank: 46 Victories: 9
Top 10 finishes: 26
Previous Travelers appearances: 2 Best finish: T9 (2016)
Career Majors (1): 2017 U.S. Open Career highlights: Played for the United States in the last Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup; has seven international victories
Morelli’s take: Looks to be completely recovered from a left wrist injury that cost him almost four months. His length can allow him to have plenty of wedges into the holes at TPC River Highlands. If he putts well, Koepka will be there on Sunday.
PAUL CASEY
40 Age: 2018 Season: Won the Valspar Championship; tied for fifth at the Wells Fargo Championship World Rank: No. 11
FedEx Cup Rank: 15 Victories: 17
Top 10 finishes: 52 Previous Travelers appearances: T5 Best finish: Second in 2015 (lost in playoff to Bubba Watson) Career Majors: 0 Career highlights: Has 14 international victories, including the 2009 BMW PGA Championship and the 2013 Irish Open.
Morelli’s take: Played very well in his first appearance there. Another player who often finds himself on the leaderboard on Sunday, but winning the tournament is usually a different story.
PATRICK REED
Age: 27 2018 Season: Won his first major championship, the Masters; tied for second at the Valspar Championship; five top-10 finishes overall
World Rank: No. 13
FedEx Cup Rank: 7 Victories: 6
Top 10 finishes: 34
Previous Travelers appearances: 6 Best finish: T5 (2017)
Career Majors (1): 2018 Masters Career highlights: Has played on two Ryder Cup teams and represented the U.S. in the 2016 Summer Olympics; tied for second in last year’s PGA Championship.
Morelli’s take: Handled himself well in one of the most anticipated Masters in some time, outplaying his final-round playing partner, Rory McIlroy, in addition to holding off Jordan Spieth among others. He can handle the heat of a final round.
MARC LEISHMAN
Age: 34
2018 Season: Placed second at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges; tied for seventh at the Tournament of Champions
World Rank: No. 14 FedEx Cup Rank: 20 Victories: 8
Top 10 finishes: 38 Previous Travelers appearances: 7
Best finish: Won (2012) Career Majors: 0
Career highlights: Lost in a threeway playoff at the 2015 Open championship to Zach Johnson. Shot a finalround 62, then had to wait a couple of hours before winning the 2012 Travelers, his first PGA Tour title.
Morelli’s take: Two wins in 2017, including the BMW Championship, a FedExCup playoff event. Hasn’t contended here since his win six years ago.
BUBBA WATSON
Age: 39 2018 Season: 4 Top 10 finishes ... Won the Genesis Open and the WGCDell Technologies Match Play, tied for fifth at the Masters, tied for 9th at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
World Rank: No. 19
FedEx Cup Rank: 9 Victories: 13
Top 10 finishes: 60
Previous Travelers appearances: 11
Best finish: Won (2010, 2015) Career Majors (2): 2012 and 2014 Masters
Career highlights: First PGA Tour win was at the 2010 Travelers Championship ... member of the 2011, 2015 Presidents Cup, 2010, 2012, 2014 Ryder Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics
Morelli’s take: Last year was the first time since 2006 that Watson missed the cut at the Travelers. But Watson has returned to his old form, playing well on his favorite courses on tour, of which TPC River Highlands is one. He should be in contention again Sunday afternoon.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU
Age: 39 2018 Season: Won Jack’s Tournament (at the Memorial) and placed second in Arnie’s event (Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard) World Rank: No. 22
FedEx Cup Rank: 5 Victories: 2
Top 10 finishes: 9 Previous Travelers appearances: 2 Best finish: Tied for 26th in 2017.
Career Majors: 0
Career highlights: Won the 2017 John Deere Classic; member of the 2017 Walker Cup team
Morelli’s take: If fans don’t know the name, they may recognize the cap he wears when competing: similar to the ones Ben Hogan used to wear. Proven winner on a tough track at Memorial.
DARK HORSE PICK DANIEL BERGER
Age: 25 2018 Season: Tied for 11th twice at the Tournament of Champions and the Waste Management Phoenix Open World Rank: No. 43
FedEx Cup Rank: 88 Victories: 2
Top 10 finishes: 18 Previous Travelers appearances: 2 Best finish: Second (lost in playoff to Jordan Spieth) Career Majors: 0
Career highlights: Won back-to-back FedEx St. Judes Classic titles in 2016 and 2017. Represented the United States on the 2017 Presidents Cup team.
Morelli’s take: Ranking doesn’t say so, but Berger will be a factor this week. Not only did he lose to Spieth last year, but he led in 2016 before finishing fifth to Russell Knox. He seems to like the River Highlands layout.