With Martin Kaymer crowned the new U.S. Open Champion, the PGA Tour now moves north to Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.

A PGA Tour event has been played in the Hartford area since 1952, when Ted Kroll won the Insurance City Open. It annually ranks second only to the Waste Management Phoenix Open as the most attended tour event.

The tournament was affiliated with Sammy Davis Jr. for 15 years from 1973-1988, when celebrities were used to boost attendance and garner higher television ratings.  

Billy Casper won this event four times in his Hall-of-Fame career. Arnold Palmer won his first PGA Tour title here in 1956 and would win a second title in 1960.

Other multiple winners of the Travelers Championship include; Paul Azinger, Phil Mickelson, Peter Jacobsen and Stewart Cink.

Sam Snead, Ken Venturi, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Kenny Perry and Bubba Watson are all past winners of this event.

Ken Duke won his first and thus far only PGA Tour tournament here in 2013 and will defend at TPC River Highlands Golf Course. He will be looking to revive good memories of last year’s victory.

Duke has struggled this season with only two top-25 finishes in 19 starts. He is No. 145 in the FedEx Cup ranking and No. 167 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The Travelers Championship offers a total purse of $6.2 million with $1.08 million going to the winner.

TPC at River Highlands plays to a par-70 at 6,844 yards and has hosted the Travelers Championship since 1984. It was originally TPC of Connecticut, but was redesigned in 1991 and renamed TPC at River Highlands.

This tournament annually offers sponsor’s exemptions to promising young amateurs and lesser name professionals. From this practice is has developed a strong loyalty from players like Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan who make this one of their annual appearances.