The season of resurgence has also impacted the 2023 Travelers Championship and this week’s contender is 54-hole leader Keegan Bradley. Having already won the Zozo Championship this season, Bradley is in prime position at 21 under and becomes only the sixth multiple winner this year alongside Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Max Homa, Tony Finau and Wyndham Clark.
The 37-year-old led most of Saturday’s third round but fell behind Chez Reavie in the middle part of the back nine. Entering the 15th hole with a lead, Bradley met adversity with a sense of ferocity, parrying consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th to give himself a two-shot lead. Reavie remains firmly in the running, down a shot at 20 thanks to a final birdie, and seeking his second Travelers Championship title with a handful of players with big presence lurking behind.
Patrick Cantlay, who is now 12 years away from scoring a 60 as an amateur at the event, almost matched that feat with a 61 on Saturday. The world No. 4 will start the final day on the fringes of the competition and will require another tremendous effort should she compete in the winners’ circle for the first time this year. Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler all find their names on the front page of the leaderboard and remain eager to pounce should Bradley stumble in the finals.
the leader
1. Keegan Bradley (-21)
Bradley followed a very good game plan and turned the Travelers Championship into a birdie barrage. He currently ranks second in shots from tee to green, first in shots on approach, and first in shots on putting. Bradley seems extremely comfortable on the greens and if he stays that way to the final lap his second win of the season is imminent. Over three rounds, the five-time winner has posted a total of 22 birdies, but perhaps more importantly, he’s only landed a bogey and clean on his last 49 holes. With 189 for the tournament, he finished just one shot short of the PGA Tour record for the first 54 holes of 188 set by Justin Thomas at the 2017 Sony Open and Steve Stricker at the 2010 John Deere Classic.
other candidates
2. Chez Reavie (-20)
3.Patrick Cantlay (-16)
T4. Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Denny McCarthy (-15)
T7. Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Alex Smalley, Brian Harman, Min Woo Lee (-14)
After gaining +4.21 strokes from tee to green on Friday, Thomas was back at the start on Saturday. He again led the field from tee to green, hitting 5.38 strokes en route to an excellent 62. That form Thomas will need to continue into the final stretch of the 2023 season as he entered the Travelers Championship outside of the top 70 of the FedEx Cup ranking. As the number of players getting access to the first playoff event dwindles, Thomas needs to get it done quickly, and this week looks to be the start.
“I’m not in a position right now that I can’t play in,” said Thomas. “I’m very, very lucky that in the many years of my career I’ve never had to add events at the end of the year for playoff purposes, but that’s where I’m at and I’m just trying to make the most of it do it.” So I also feel like I have to keep going, keep going. I felt very connected for a while. I literally had nothing to show for it. And you never know. I’m one lap away tomorrow I’ve completely changed my focus and perspective on the year and the rest of the year. Yeah, I kind of have to stick with it.”
Rickie’s run into history
A week after Fowler made history at the US Open with an opening score of 62, Fowler nearly added another chapter. The 34-year-old was one shot away from becoming the 13th player on the PGA Tour to shoot a round under 60. After putting in 30 points, Fowler added two quick birdies up the front of the TPC River Highlands to get to 7 under with his first 11 shots. Three pars in a row preceded an unlikely eagle before Fowler stole another with a birdie on the par-3 8th. He went into the last round and needed a birdie to join the sub-60 club, but settled for par and the lowest round of his PGA Tour career.
“Make the turn [I began to think about shooting 59]”After I birdie 18, I knew I could possibly land six on the lead, and especially after birdies 1 and 2, my 10th and 11th.” You know, 7-under to 11 is a pretty good one Position. So yes, I mean I would say between the turn and of course after the 10th and 11th holes, yes.”
Scheffler’s series
Rounds of 63 players pinched an even par 70 in Round 2, giving Scheffler a chance to continue his top 12 streak this season. As of October 2022, the world No. 1 has not finished in the top 12 in a tournament on the PGA Tour for 16 consecutive attempts. He remains unlikely to pick up his third win of the season, but another 63 would set him up for another quality result in what may be his final US start before the Open.
Updated odds and tips for the Travelers Championship 2023
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Keegan Bradley: 5/6
- Chez Reavie: 5/2
- Patrick Cantlay: 17/2
- Scottie Scheffler: 28-1
- Rickie Fowler: 35-1
- Adam Scott: 40-1
- Denny McCarthy: 50-1
- Justin Thomas: 80-1
It felt like Bradley could have taken Reavie’s best punch on Saturday and stayed upright. As his lead over Reavie halved, Bradley continued to show determination. He hits the ball beautifully, rolls the rock with the best and minimizes mistakes. A name like Cantlay or Scheffler would add interest but the final day will likely remain a two horse race with Bradley receiving support at 5/6.
Rick Gehman is joined by Greg DuCharme to cover moving day at the Travelers Championship. Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas decline but Keegan Bradley leads into Sunday. Follow and listen to The First Cut on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.