Strong Field Set to Compete In Travelers Championship

The player field for the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship may not contain names like Mickelson, McIlroy, Els or Woods, but tournament officials are thrilled with the depth and quality of the top players competing this week in Cromwell.

Eight of the top 18 players on both the money list and the FedEx Cup standings are teeing it up today, led by 2010 Travelers Championship winner Bubba Watson.

Watson, who is third on the earnings list with just under $3 million and second in the FedEx Cup standings, earned his first Tour victory here last year in a three-way playoff with Scott Verplank and Corey Pavin.

The left-handed player is seeking to duplicate the feat of Mickelson, another lefty, who is the only player to win the Hartford-area tournament in consecutive years (2001-2002).

"It's a great golf course, the conditions are always good and the greens are always running pretty good," Watson said. "It's just a great golf course, great atmosphere here, with all the volunteers and the support that this tournament has, and a great sponsor like Travelers."

Other top contenders are expected to be Nick Watney (fourth in earnings, sixth in FedEx Cup), David Toms (sixth and eighth), Brandt Snedeker (13th and 12th), Martin Laird (14th and 15th), Aaron Baddeley (15th and 17th), Webb Simpson (17th and 16th) and Hunter Mahan (18th and 18th).

Sixteen major championship winners are playing this week, including three-time major winners Padraig Harrington and Vijay Singh. Other major winners are Toms, Pavin, Rich Beem, Steve Elkington, John Daly, Lucas Glover, Geoff Ogilvy, Jim Furyk, Lee Janzen, Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Ben Curtis, David Duval and Justin Leonard.

Besides Watson, past champions include Mahan, Kenny Perry, J.J. Henry, Woody Austin and Brad Faxon. Faxon, a popular New Englander from Barrington, R.I., was honored Wednesday for starting his 27th Travelers Championship, more than any other PGA player.

Tee times and live scoring are available at pgatour.com.