TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
Venue: TPC River Highlands
- Location: Cromwell, Connecticut
- Par: 70
- Yardage: ~6,840 yards
- Architects: Pete Dye (original), Bobby Weed (renovation)
- Course Identity:
- One of the shortest courses on the PGA TOUR
- Demands precision, wedge control, and elite putting
- Famous for dramatic scoring swings on the closing stretch (holes 15–18)
- Signature Features:
- Stadium‑style amphitheater around the 16th–18th holes
- Risk‑reward par‑4 15th
- Water in play on 15, 16, and 17
- Historically one of the TOUR’s most birdie‑friendly venues
Starting Date & Time
Round 1 Tee Times Begin: Thursday, June 25, 2026 — 7:00 AM EDT
Weather Conditions (Tournament Week Forecast)
Thursday (Round 1)
- High: 82°F
- Wind: 7–10 mph SW
- Conditions: Sunny, soft greens early
- Impact: Low scoring expected; morning wave advantage
Friday (Round 2)
- High: 84°F
- Wind: 10–12 mph S
- Conditions: Slightly firmer
- Impact: Afternoon wave may face tougher winds
Saturday (Round 3)
- High: 86°F
- Wind: 8 mph W
- Conditions: Hot, greens firming
- Impact: Scoring slows; approach precision becomes critical
Sunday (Final Round)
- High: 83°F
- Wind: 6 mph NE
- Conditions: Calm, ideal scoring
- Impact: Expect a tightly packed leaderboard and late‑round volatility
Course Conditions & Setup
- Fairways: Bentgrass/Poa mix — running medium‑fast
- Greens: Bentgrass — pure, receptive early, firming by weekend
- Rough: 3.5–4 inches — penal but not U.S. Open level
- Scoring Outlook:
- Winning score typically -15 to -20
- Birdie streaks essential
- Par‑5 13th is the easiest hole on the course
- Closing stretch rewards aggressive play
Injury Report (Key Players)
Likely to Play
- Scottie Scheffler — minor wrist soreness, cleared
- Patrick Cantlay — back stiffness, expected to compete
- Tom Kim — ankle sprain recovery, probable
Questionable
- Jordan Spieth — lingering neck issue
- Sungjae Im — rib discomfort
Out
- Will Zalatoris — back management week
- Hideki Matsuyama — shoulder rehab
Key Player Matchups
1. Scottie Scheffler vs. Xander Schauffele
- Two elite tee‑to‑green players
- Schauffele has a strong Travelers history
- Scheffler’s putting remains the swing factor Edge: Slightly Schauffele at this venue
2. Patrick Cantlay vs. Viktor Hovland
- Cantlay owns multiple top‑15s here
- Hovland’s wedge game is improving but still inconsistent Edge: Cantlay
3. Tom Kim vs. Collin Morikawa
- Both thrive on precision layouts
- Morikawa’s iron play gives him a slight advantage Edge: Morikawa
4. Jordan Spieth vs. Justin Thomas
- Spieth has won here before
- Thomas trending upward after swing changes Edge: Even (health determines Spieth’s ceiling)
Tournament History
- Defending Champion (2025): Xander Schauffele
- Notable Past Champions:
- Jordan Spieth (2017, playoff hole‑out)
- Harris English (2021, 8‑hole playoff)
- Dustin Johnson (2020)
- Bubba Watson (2010, 2015, 2018)
- Historical Trends:
- Course rewards elite iron play and hot putting
- Multiple playoffs in the last decade
- Closing stretch often decides the tournament
Recent Player Form (Selected Contenders)
Scottie Scheffler
- Last 5 starts: T3, T5, 2, T12, T8
- Best in world tee‑to‑green; putting streaky
Xander Schauffele
- Last 5 starts: T7, T2, T15, 1, T10
- Defending champ; perfect course fit
Patrick Cantlay
- Last 5 starts: T18, T9, T6, MC, T4
- Trending upward; elite ball‑striker
Viktor Hovland
- Last 5 starts: T20, T14, T8, T30, T6
- Solid but not spectacular; wedge play key
Jordan Spieth
- Last 5 starts: MC, T25, T12, T40, WD
- Volatile form; health questions linger
Betting Trends
Course Trends
- 7 of last 10 winners ranked top‑20 in SG: Approach
- 6 of last 10 winners gained 4+ strokes putting
- Playoff probability: High (4 playoffs since 2015)
Player Trends
- Schauffele: 4 straight top‑20s at TPC River Highlands
- Cantlay: Gained strokes putting in 8 of last 10 rounds here
- Morikawa: Top‑10 in SG: Approach over last 20 rounds
- Spieth: Boom‑or‑bust profile; thrives on short courses
