Rory McIlroy is one of the biggest names in the field this week at TPC River HighlandsGETTY IMAGES
The PGA Tour Travelers Championship's "climb back to elite status, with growing crowds, has been evident," and it has to do with an "ability to draw top players," according to Mike Anthony of the HARTFORD COURANT. The construction of a new practice facility in '08 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., "not only gave top golfers a state-of-the-art reason to participate," but it also gave "20 acres of open land to work with at the heart of the course, the site of the old range." With an "eye toward making the tournament more family friendly, the tournament has filled that area with concessions and a fan zone that includes, climbing walls, miniature golf and a concert stage." Aside from '16, the tournament has "taken place in the June week following the U.S. Open every year since Travelers took over as title sponsor" in '07. That is a "comfortable spot on the Tour schedule," as Tournament Dir Nathan Grube and his staff can "sell the tournament as an unofficial kickoff to summer in Connecticut, and because waves of the world’s top golfers leave U.S. Open courses and find it convenient to join the field." The tourney also has "caught European players on the way back home." About 290,000 fans "attended last year, when the tournament took another step toward taking on the feel of its heyday." A "record crowd of 323,000 attended" in '02. Anthony: "The buzz is certainly back, ticket sales are up, concessions numbers are up, more merchandise is being sold, more cars are being parked" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/19).
MAKE GOLF FUN AGAIN: GOLF DIGEST's Mike Stachura wrote the Travelers Championship seems to be "using a word that the USGA has forgotten, at least when it comes to staging a golf tournament: Fun." TPC River Highlands Dir of Golf Course Maintenance Operations Jeff Reich said, "We want to provide a challenge, but we want our players to have fun. We want our players to come back. We’re not here really to give them the ultimate-upon-ultimate test. ... But we don’t want it to be boring." He added, "We want our players to come back and say, ‘Wow that was a good test and I want to come back'" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 6/19).
NEXT GENERATION: USA TODAY's William Paxton notes Travelers officials have had to "make intelligent decisions to make sure fans have a quality field to watch" in the tournament. One of the ways they have been able to achieve that is by "offering the game’s next generation of stars an opportunity," like when it granted Patrick Cantlay a sponsor's exemption in '11. Cantlay said, "They have a history of giving exemptions to guys who are turning pro or have just turned pro and I think that bodes well for the tournament." Several players will make their "professional debut this year," including Doug Ghim and Nick Hardy (USA TODAY, 6/20).
STRESS RELIEF: Massage Envy will feature an activation exhibit at the Travelers Championship this year located in the Fan Zone between holes No. 1 and 18, where fans can receive a complimentary massage and/or trial stretch service. The local Massage Envy franchisee is also providing 30 minute Total Body Stretch service cards to anyone who downloads the Massage Envy mobile app and books an appointment while visiting its tournament experience (THE DAILY).
