Travelers Championship 2024 Bet Slip: Picks To Win, Finishing Positions, One-And-Done Pick

For a third straight week, the PGA TOUR treats us to a big-boy tournament: Travelers Championship 2024 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. It’s the final "signature event" of the 2024 season. Reigning Travelers champion, and New England native, Keegan Bradley defends his title in a field with most of the top 50 in the FedExCup standings. 

This field features World No. 1, and 2024 Masters champion, Scottie Scheffler and PGA champion Xander Schauffele. Xander won the 2022 Travelers, Harris English won two years ago, LIV Tour defector Dustin Johnson in 2020, and Chez Reavie in 2019. The Travelers is a birdie fest with an average winning score of -18 over the last five years. 

Keegan Bradley poses with the trophy after winning the 2023 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

It is the second-most attended tournament on the PGA TOUR annually, behind the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Fellow OutKick writer, golf bettor, and Connecticut resident, Dan Zaksheske will be at TPC River Highlands this weekend to heckle the golfers he faded (just kidding). 

Golfers will leave their drivers in the bag because TPC River Highlands is the fourth-shortest course on TOUR. This is a Pete Dye-designed par-70 with narrow fairways and small Bentgrass/Poa greens playing to roughly 6,835 yards. 

Last week, I failed to capture my "North America Trifecta" by not accurately picking the U.S. Open winner. That said, I cashed four of seven finishing position bets and scraped out a +0.44 units (u) win at the U.S. Open. As a result, my PGA TOUR 2024 balance is -39.98u. But, I cannot make my money back by quitting, so let’s get into the betting card for the 2024 Travelers Championship.

Travelers Championship 2024 Betting Card 

Stats courtesy of Bet The Number from the Tour Junkies, Pay Mayo's Fantasy National, and the PGA Tour. 

‘Starting 5’ 

The odds chosen are the best available at legal U.S. sportsbooks as of noon ET Tuesday, June 18th.

Ludvig Åberg (+1400)

We see Åberg dominate on his first visit to these courses since it’s his rookie season. But, Ludvig became a full-time PGA TOUR pro in June 2023 after finishing first at last year’s PGA TOUR University. His second start last season was the Travelers and tied for 24th with a -13 score despite losing strokes with his irons, per Bet The Number. 

The Swede gained strokes tee-to-green, off-the-tee (OTT), around-the-green, and putting at the 2023 Travelers though. I’m giving Ludvig the benefit of the doubt about last year’s performance with his irons in the Travelers. This season, Åberg ranks 15th in Strokes Gained (SG): Approach (APP) on TOUR. 

Åberg is already one of the best in the world OTT. And you’d think because TPC River Highlands isn’t a "bomber’s paradise", Åberg’s prowess OTT won’t help him much this week. However, 2020 Travelers champion, Johnson, three-time Travelers champion, and fellow LIV Tour Defector, Bubba Watson were excellent OTT in their primes.

Furthermore, Åberg can just overpower these small courses. Ludvig’s effortless swing helps him gain strokes on the field OTT when pulling less than driver. His power makes it easy for Åberg to hit the green after clubbing down with his tee shot. Ludvig’s only career win on The RSM Classic with a -29 score during the 2023 FedExCup Fall schedule. 

The RSM is at the Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course, another small, birdie fest par-70 course (7,005 yards). Granted, the Travelers has a much tougher field. Yet, I trust Åberg’s skill set to score more birdies at TPC River Highlands this year. More importantly, Ludvig has contended in several "signature events" and is ready to win one of these. 

BET 1.6 units (u) on Ludvig Åberg (+1400) to profit 22.5u. 

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Patrick Cantlay (+2000) 

This is a "course history" bet. Cantlay leads this field in total SG over the last Travelers Championships, per Fantasy National. He’s finished inside the top 15 in his last six starts at TPC River Highlands with a career-best T4 in 2023. Cantlay had the second-best odds (+1000) at the 2023 Travelers, tied with Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy, and third-best odds (+1200) in 2022. 

The eight-time PGA TOUR champion is having a down year. He showed glimpses of his old self in the U.S. Open last week. Cantlay was leading the U.S. Open after the first round and finished T3. Moreover, his "bad" ain’t that bad and we are getting good odds.

Cantlay tied for 11th at Pebble Beach (a crossover course with TPC River Highlands), T4 at The Genesis Invitational, and T3 at the RBC Heritage (played at another comp course to River Highlands), and all three were "signature events".

Patrick Cantlay lines up his putt during the final round of the 2023 Travelers Championship. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Also, when Cantlay is on his game, he’s one of the best drivers of the golf ball in the world. He’s not quite the "bomber" of DJ and Bubba. Nonetheless, last season, Cantlay was fourth in SG: OTT on TOUR, 17th in 2021-22, and 12th in 2020-21. 

The American Ryder Cup team member is equal parts long and accurate with his driver. For TPC River Highlands, accuracy is handy for Cantlay since the course’s only defense is narrow fairways and small greens. 

When playing well, Cantlay is good throughout the bag, which makes me confident in betting him at a birdie fest. Finally, he’s gained strokes OTT, ARG, APP, and putting in four consecutive Travelers Championships. 

BET 1.13u on Patrick Cantlay (+2000) to profit 22.5u. 

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Sam Burns (+3300) 

Burns has true "win equity" and has quietly been playing well recently. He was T13 at the Wells Fargo Championship ("signature event"), T10 at the RBC Canadian Open, T15 at the Memorial Tournament ("signature event"), and T9 at last week's U.S. Open. 

He won back-to-back Valspar Championships in 2021-22 at Innisbrook, a comp course to TPC River Highlands. Last year, Burns won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at another Dye course, Austin Country Club. He was T6 at The American Express at Dye's Stadium Course and the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial, and won last year's Charles Schwab. 

Sam Burns holds the Walter Hagen after winning the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. (Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports)

The biggest concern with betting Burns is his driving accuracy. Yet, per DataGolf.com, Burns has been more accurate than the field in six of his last seven starts, including three "signature events" and two majors. The Travelers can be a putting contest and Burns is one of the best putters on TOUR. 

BET 0.75u on Sam Burns (+3300) to profit 22.5u. 

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Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+9000)

Originally, Denny McCarthy was my pick for this price range. But, when D-Mac's odds dropped out of this price range, I switched to C-Bez, who has a similar skill-set. Both are fantastic putters who cannot drive the ball far but can hit fairways. 

Bezuidenhout has three top 10s this year and ranks 13th on TOUR in total SG. His top 10s include a second at The AmEx, T9 at the Valspar, and fourth at the Memorial. He tied for 20th at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am ("signature event") and T13 at THE PLAYERS.  

The South African is 40th in the Official World Golf Rankings and 16th in DataGolf.com's rankings, which I trust more. Bezuidenhout ranks eighth in this field for total SG on crossover courses to TPC River Highlands, according to Bet The Number.

BET 0.25u on Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+9000) to profit 22.5u. 

• I'm also adding a 0.75u bet on Christiaan Bezuidenhout Top-20 (+180) to profit 1.35u.

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Victor Perez (+22500)

At these odds, I can overlook Perez’s missed cut at last week’s U.S. Open. It’s a major and Pinehurst’s No. 2 course is the toughest on TOUR this season. Perez tied for 12th two weeks ago at the Memorial Tournament and finished third at the RBC Canadian Open three starts prior. 

Muirfield Village (host of the Memorial) and Hamilton Golf & Country Club (host of the Canadian Open) have Bentgrass/Poa greens like TPC River Highlands. The Frenchman picked up nearly a half-stroke on the greens at the Memorial and more than nine strokes putting at the Canadian Open. 

Perez rookie is 16th in SG: APP this season, the most important stat for the Travelers. The PGA TOUR rookie has proven he can go low; he shot -14 at the Canadian Open, -18 in a T3 at the Puerto Rico Open, and -11 in a T16 at the Cognizant Classic.

BET 0.1u on Victor Perez (+22500) to profit 22.5u. 

• I'm also adding a 0.4u bet on Victor Perez Top-20 (+333) to profit 1.5u.

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Additional Finishing Position Bets 

Make placement bets at BetMGM since that's the only sportsbook that isn't applying "dead heat" rules to the Travelers Championship.

Corey Conners Top-10 (+225): 0.5u to profit 1.13u 

Despite his putting woes, Conners ranks fifth in my 40-round model at Bet The Number. The Canadian is 15th in total SG on TOUR this season, second in SG: APP and 19th in driving accuracy. He finished sixth in the RBC Canadian Open, which is effectively a major for him, and T9 at the U.S. Open. 

Conners gained strokes putting in both the Canadian and U.S. Opens. The host course for the Canadian Open has a similar layout to TPC River Highlands and the same putting surface (Bentgrass/Poa greens). Conners was T9 at the 2023 Travelers and has made the cut in all 17 starts this season. 

Keegan Bradley Top-10 (+300): 0.5u to profit 1.5u 

My fellow St. John's 2008 classmate finished T2 at the Charles Schwab and Sony Open this year. Both of those tournaments are played at comp courses to TPC River Highlands, where he is the defending champion. Bradley plays well in New England and has three top 10s in his last seven Travelers. 

Keegan Bradley celebrates with his son after the 2023 Travelers. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Keegan is usually dialed in with the irons but has gained strokes on the greens in six of his last seven starts. This includes two "signature events" and all three majors. According to Bet The Number, Bradley is fifth in this field for SG: Putting on Bentgrass/Poa over the last 24 rounds. 

Denny McCarthy Top-20 (+160): 0.75u to profit 1.2u 

Just because I don't have an outright bet on him doesn't mean I'm completely removing McCarthy from my 2024 Travelers betting card. He is nasty at putting and doesn’t have to worry about driving the ball far at TPC River Highlands.

McCarthy is second on TOUR this season in SG: Putting and tied for seventh at the 2023 Travelers while gaining more than five strokes on the greens. His driving accuracy has been inconsistent this year. However, he’s been more accurate OTT than the field and gained strokes with his irons in four of his five career Travelers.

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Travelers Championship 2024 One-And-Done Pick: Patrick Cantlay 

The wheels are falling off in my 2024 Mayo Cup One-And-Done league. I went with Cam Smith for the 2024 U.S. Open, and he added a measly $110,894 to my season-long balance. After 22 tournaments, I've accrued $10,594,771, putting me in 1,512th place. Since I have no faith Cantlay can win a major, I need to use him at the Travelers. 

Patrick Cantlay hits an approach shot in the final round of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. (Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports)

With that in mind, this is a tournament Cantlay wins. He's won the BMW Championship (second round of the FedExCup Playoffs) and Memorial twice each. Cantlay comes into the Travelers with some momentum after outperforming his odds at the 2024 U.S. Open. I'm worried about his popularity in this pool, but I need a win more than anything. 

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Follow me on X (or Twitter, whatever) @Geoffery-Clark and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants. I'll add bets to my PGA Tour 2024 betting record via X all season.