The 2019 Travelers Championship: Inside the Course (TPC River Highlands Review)

Trying to generate interest in a PGA Tour event the week after a major championship can be a struggle.  The tournament is perceived as a snooze-fest.  The world's top players often take much needed time off.  Even the fans need time to recuperate after a brutal post-major comedown. 

 

That is, unless we’re talking about the Traveler's Championship, which always attracts some of the biggest names in the game, and draws some of the largest crowds on Tour all year.  And the Pete Dye designed TPC River Highlands requires you to think your way around the course, utilizing narrow fairways, an abundance of bunkers, and firm, fast conditions to reward intelligence and precision more than brute force and strength. 

5 Things to Know about the 2019 Travelers Championship

With unforgettable images of Pebble Beach and another first time major champion still resonating in our U.S. Open rear-view mirror, the PGA Tour arrives to the birdie-friendly confines of TPC River Highlands this week for the Travelers Championship.  And this year’s star-studded field promises more excitement than ever. 

 

Five of the top-10 players in the OWGR are  in the field, including three of the top-10 in the FedExCup Playoff standings.  TPC River Highlands is a 6,841-yard, par-70 Pete Dye designed track overlooking the Connecticut River, and the routing on hole Nos. 15 through 18 provides the purest form of stadium golf on Tour. 

Gary Woodland WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Woodland Used to Win the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach

Father's Day couldn't have been any better this past Sunday for Gary Woodland.  Woodland won the US Open at Pebble Beach, capturing his first major championship, while his wife (who's pregnant with twins) and young son cheered dad on to victory back home. 

 

Woodland began the final round with the lead and came out charging with two birdies over the first three holes, and never lost a share of the lead.  Woodland held off a ferocious charge from defending champion Brooks Koepka, and finished 2-under, 69 for the day, and 13-under overall (topping Tiger Woods' mark of 12-under here in 2000). 

Gary Woodland and PUMA Golf's Patriot Volition America Collection Take Center Stage at the 2019 U.S. Open

Gary Woodland became a major champion last week at Pebble Beach, treating fans and spectators to an exciting finish on Sunday at U.S. Open.  Woodland held off a roster of impressive challengers to capture his first major, and was decked out in PUMA Golf's Patriot Volition America Collection for the win. 

 

PUMA announced a multi-year partnership with Woodland in January that has the celebrated pro wearing pieces from the brand's Volition America Collection, a patriotic ensemble of products to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 

Golf Pride Wins Grip Count and the 2019 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach

Golf Pride grips were the grips of choice for 83-percent players in the field last week at the U.S. Open, including the winner, Gary Woodland.  The win with Golf Pride makes six U.S. Open Championships in a row, and 9 out of the last 10, that have been won by players trusting their games to the #1 grip in golf. 

 

The 2019 U.S. Open saw nine players who finished in the top 10 trust their championship quests to Golf Pride, including Woodland's Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord Midsize grips.  And beyond the pro ranks, this year 15 of the 16 amateurs that qualified for the event had Golf Pride in their hands during their U.S. Open pursuits. 

New Titleist T200 and T300 Irons to Debut at the Travelers Championship

Last week at the US Open, Titleist Tour players put the new T100, 620MB, and 620 CB irons into play for the first time as part of Titleist's validation process.  And this week at the Travelers Championship Titleist is rolling out two more new models for their staff. 

 

The new Titleist T200 and T300 irons look to be successors to the AP3 and AP1 irons that the world's best players have used, and based on Titleist's initial player testing and feedback, these new models are poised to continue Titleist's run as the most played iron on the PGA TOUR for each of the last five years and 14 of the last 15 seasons. 

2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Round 4 Recap

Gary Woodland no longer has to answer questions about an inability to close or win a major championship. 

 

Entering Sunday’s final round of the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the 35-year-old from Topeka, Kan., was 0-for-7 when holding a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, and he had never finished better than a tie for 23rd in eight previous U.S. Opens.  That's now all in the past. 

2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Round 3 Recap

Sunday's final round of the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links is resembling the start of a NASCAR race. 

 

You have a pacesetter in 54-hole leader Gary Woodland, the 35-year-old Kansas native who has never won a major nor played in the final group on Sunday.  The three-time PGA Tour winner escaped a few potential disastrous holes on the second nine on Saturday to post a 2-under-par 69 for a three-round total of 11-under 202. 

2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Round Two Recap

Mother Nature continued to provide a reprieve to the world's best golfers on Friday.  While the sun finally made an appearance at Pebble Beach Golf Links (brief as it was), the brisk winds that often define U.S. Open Championships contested on the iconic Monterey Peninsula layout continued to be kind and gentle. 

 

Even with the greens firming up a bit, Round 2 produced more under-par rounds (44) than Thursday (39), but a different person was holding the lead.  Gary Woodland (who has never finished better than a tie for 23rd in eight previous U.S. Open starts) carded a 6-under, bogey-free 65 for a two-stroke lead over 2013 champion Justin Rose. 

2019 US Open at Pebble Beach: Round One Recap

The skies above Pebble Beach Golf Links for most of Thursday's first round were gray, but the leader board featured a different hue, one players aren’t typically accustomed to seeing at the U.S. Open Championship: Red. 

 

On a day where the winds were relatively light and the mercury barely crossed the 60-degree mark, the world's best players took full advantage of their opportunity. 

The 2019 US Open GIVEAWAY: Cobra Golf MIM Wedge and Commemorative Pebble Beach Ball Markers

It's our  national championship.  It's being held on one of the most famous courses in the world.  And it's one of the strongest fields of any US Open in history.  I was out at Pebble to play the course before the tournament began, and have been showing you pictures and videos of this national treasure the past few weeks.  So of course I'm having a US Open GIVEAWAY for all of you! 

 

This year's marquee field includes the game's most talented players.  And this year's US Open giveaway includes some of the coolest swag you'll find anywhere on the planet.  Like a Cobra MIM 56 degree wedge, because the short game will be crucial this week at Pebble.  And two limited edition US Open Pebble Beach ball markers. 

Jordan Spieth Looks to Continue Strong Run at U.S. Open with Under Armour Golf Scripting Inspired by the Pacific

Following an impressive showing at the 2019 PGA Championship on Long Island, Jordan Spieth's focus will be shifting to the other coast, as he looks to capture his second U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach. 

 

Once again, Jordan will be relying upon Under Armour's innovative Iso-Chill technology to keep him cool on one of golf's biggest stages, wearing the groundbreaking apparel for three days at the national championship. 

Aerotech SteelFiber Shafts Collect Five Top-10s on Three Tours

Aerotech SteelFiber graphite iron shafts delivered five Top-10 last week on the PGA, LPGA, and Champion tours, including two T4's at the RBC Canadian Open, two T5's at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, and one T10 at the Mastercard Japan Championship. 

 

Brandt Snedeker played SteelFiber i95 graphite shafts in his irons, and the 2012 FedEx Cup champion shot 69 in three rounds, as well as a tournament low score of 60 for his T4 finish.  Last year Snedeker even bested that score when he blazed a 59 at the Wyndham Championship. 

Galvin Green 2019 Part 2 Collection Preview: Designed to Help Golfers Play More Often

The latest collection of golfwear from Galvin Green offers serious golfers a range of high-performance garments designed to help them perform at their best more often in the most demanding playing conditions. 

 

The new 2019 Part Two range available this month has been inspired by the harshest conditions at one of the most challenging links courses in the world, the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, soon to host the 148th Open Championship. 

Sights from the 2019 US Open Wednesday Practice Round at Pebble Beach

No more fine tuning.  No more practice.  Nothing more that can be done.  It's the eve of the 2019 U.S. Open, and all 156 players in the field are hoping they'll be the one's who take home this season's third major championship. 

 

The fog rolled in during Wednesday's practice round, as if to symbolize the transformation into the unreal that awaits the field tomorrow. 

Sights from the 2019 US Open Monday Practice Round at Pebble Beach

It was sunny and gorgeous day at Pebble Links golf course, and players were soaking in the coastal vibe on Monday's practice round for the U.S. Open.  Some players like Tiger Woods, had already practiced here in previous weeks.  While others like Justin Thomas didn't get out for their first practice round until later in the afternoon. 

 

I've been showing you pictures and videos on twitter and Instagram from my trip to Pebble Beach when I played the course as final preparations for the U.S. Open were being made.  And I'll have a full course review sometime later after the tournament finishes. 

PUMA Golf Unveils 2019 U.S. Open Scripts: What Fowler, DeChambeau, and Woodland Will Wear at Pebble Beach

As PUMA athletes Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Woodland prepare to take on Pebble Beach Golf Links for the 119th U.S. Open Championship, they will be dressed to the nines each day in red, white, and blue inspired apparel from the brands new Autumn Winter 2019 Collection. 

 

Additionally, throughout the week, Rickie and Bryson will use a custom COBRA Golf & Vessel US Open Tour Staff Bag, inspired by the red, white, and blue color story, and the Stars & Stripes of the American flag. 

New Titleist Irons To Debut at U.S. Open

The new Titleist T100, 620 MB, and 620 CB irons will make their tour debut at this week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, marking the first opportunity for players to use the new irons in competition. 

 

The three new iron models follow the successful introduction of the new TS2 and TS3 hybrids and U-500 and U-510 utility irons at the recent Memorial Tournament.  Validating product performance across the worldwide professional tours is a critical step in the development of all high performance Titleist golf equipment. 

Lexi Thompson And Bridgestone Golf are Big Winners in Atlantic City

Bridgestone Golf Tour team member Lexi Thompson continued one of the best Tour seasons in Bridgestone Golf's history, with a dramatic come-from-behind victory at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic. 

 

Thompson finished with a clutch eagle on the 18th hole to garner her 11th career LPGA victory and the 6th win for Bridgestone this season, including 5 with the TOUR B X golf ball.  Thompson's victory vaults her to No. 1 on the U.S. Solheim Cup points list. 

Rory McIlroy WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment McIlroy Used to Win the 2019 RBC Canadian Open

So you think Rory McIlroy can't close a tournament?  McIroy didn't just break away from the three-way pack tied for the RBC Canadian Open lead when play began on Sunday.  He sent a message and thrashed the field with a dominating 9-under 61, to finish with a record setting 22-under, 258 in the victory. 

 

The win was Rory's second of the season (to go along with The PLAYERS Championship), and the 16th of his career.  And with the victory, he joined Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, and Tiger Woods as the only players since 1935 to win the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the Canadian Open.