2024 PGA Picks: Travelers Championship Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
The third major of the season, the U.S. Open, did not disappoint last weekend and delivered some of the best drama in the history of the sport. Bryson DeChambeau capped it off with his second U.S. Open victory of his career after Rory Mcllroy missed two four-foot putts in his last three holes. Bryson would have one of the greatest scrambles for a par-save on the 18th hole to claim the title. Now, the PGA Tour turns its attention to Cromwell, Connecticut, where TPC River Highlands hosts the 2024 Travelers Championship. This is another Signature Event and carries a $20 million dollar purse. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the overwhelming favorite, followed by Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, amongst others. Doc’s Sports will break down some of the best bets from this weekend’s action below.
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A Look at the Field
Here is a look at the Top 12 and ties with the lowest golf odds to win it all at online sportsbooks
Scottie Scheffler +360 – Xander Schauffele +750 – Collin Morikawa +1100 – Ludvig Aberg +1200
Viktor Hovland +1800 – Patrick Cantlay +2000 – Hideki Matsuyama +2200 – Russell Henley +2500
Sam Burns +2800 – Tony Finau +2800 – Tommy Fleetwood +2800 – Sahith Theegala +3000
Course Characteristics of Those Who Can Win or Secure Winning Golf Bets
TPC River Highlands is a 6,841-yard par-70 that has been on the PGA Tour for 40 years. It is possible to go extremely low at this Pete Dye track, as three of the last four winners have shot at least 19-under-par. The track was originally designed by Robert J. Ross and Maurice Kearney in 1928 and was reworked by Pete Dye in 1982. The fairways are surrounded by bluegrass rough that was as high as four inches in some places last year and the smaller than average Poa Annua greens are fairly easy to hit. Holes 15, 16, and 17 are nicknamed the ‘Golden Triangle’ and they wind around a lake, creating a magnificent and dramatic backdrop for what is often a theatrical finish down the stretch. Hole 15 is a drivable par four, but the green has tricky roll-offs and water is in play on the left-hand side. The par three 16th hole is played over water and had an average score of 3.02 last year. The final hole of the ‘Golden Triangle’ is a par four that has water to the right of the tee and approach shots to the green are played over the lake.
Patrick Cantlay +2000
Despite not winning the U.S. Open after being tied for the lead after Round 1, it was all positives for Cantlay at Pinehurst. He played well on Sunday and finally got a feel for what major championship contention feels like. He will now head to a place where he has had an incredible amount of success. In his last six starts at TPC River Highlands, he has not finished worse than 15th. Last season he finished T4 and ranks first in the field in Strokes Gained: Total at TPC River Highlands. He also ranks fourth in this field in that same category at Pete Dye courses overall. I fully expect him to build off last week and contend at the Travelers Championship.
Sahith Theegala +3000
Theegala has quickly become one of my favorite players on tour and has been playing some solid golf over the last few months. Sahith nearly won this event in 2022 but made a double-bogey on the 18th hole with a one-shot lead, losing to Xander Schauffele. Now he heads back to this course as a more mature player and in the midst of his best season. He heads to Connecticut in fine form, finishing 5th at the Waste Management, 6th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 9th at the Players Championship, 2nd at RBC Heritage, and 12th at the Memorial and PGA Championship. Theegala has the type of ball-striking and short game around the greens to win the race to 20-under-par. Look for Theegala to contend this weekend.
Tom Kim +4000
Kim had a sluggish start to this season but is starting to trend in the right direction. He finished 24th at Valhalla for the PGA Championship, T4 at the RBC Canadian Open, and T26 at last week’s U.S. Open. In his past 24 rounds, Kim ranks 7th in Par 4 Birdie or Better Percentage and ranks 19th in the field in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. With this week’s course being shorter, that cancels out Kim’s biggest weakness of driving distance. He is already a three-time winner on the PGA Tour and has shown the ability to close out a tournament with the best of them.
Golf Picks: Who to Consider This Week:
To win: Cantlay, Theegala, Kim
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