Golf Channel releases Power Rankings for the Travelers Championship

The Golf Channel has released its Power Rankings on the heels of the U.S. Open and the road to this week’s Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell Connecticut.

Most of the 72 golfers in the field for the travelers are reeling like Rocky Balboa after the Russian pounded on the Italian Stallion’s head in the best Rocky movie (Arguably), Rocky 4.

Punch drunk and confused, PGA Tour pros set their sights on a palate cleanser. They just wanted to go the distance at Oakmont.

In Connecticut, they have a chance to win. Let us look at the power rankings, according to the Golf Channel. A quick note: J.J. Spaun, who trudged through the muck for the most spectacular and improbable victory ever, is nowhere to be seen on this list.

Let’s just say he makes our list, at least this week.

Power Rankings for the Travelers Championship from GOLF.com:

15. Ryan Fox
As he stated during his win at the RBC Canadian Open, the breakthrough title at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic lifted pressure to prove that he belongs. Now he’s fresh off a career-best T19 at the U.S. Open. Travelers debut.

14. Sam Burns, USA
After consecutive weeks of heartbreak with the finish line in view, it’s fair to wonder how much more he must give now. At the same time, he’s still in a season-long competition, and his form is better than most.

13. Harry Hall, England
The Brit is one of nine in the field who wasn’t beat up at Oakmont, so he’s refreshed. And with nine straight paydays upon arrival, four of which for a top 20, he’s that little bit stronger relative to the field. Elite scorer.

12. Robert MacIntyre, Scotland
There were only 19 red numbers after the cut at the U.S. Open. He was the only with two in his rise to solo second. No doubt spent like many others, but it’s the latest of a litany of strong showings. T16 in debut here last year.

11. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland
With attention focused on who would prevail at the U.S. Open, McIlroy quietly posted a field-low-tying, 3-under 67 with six birdies at Oakmont on Sunday. That can only help his cause to reignite.

10. Justin Thomas, USA
We’ve come to expect wild swings of form from him in recent years, so TPC River Highlands presents an elixir for his recent lull. In the last two editions, he’s finished a respective T9 and T5 with a scoring average of 65.63.

9. Keegan Bradley, USA
With but a T39 in his title defense here last year, the native New Englander climbed to the top of all-time money list at TPC River Highlands. Now in his 15th appearance, his form is as solid as it’s ever been to pile on.

8. Viktor Hovland, Norway
En route to the bronze at Oakmont, he ranked second in greens hit, which is expected, but did you notice that he led the field in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green? If that continues, it’s going to be a hot Hovland summer.

7. Brian Harman, USA
Talk about a horse for a course. At fourth in the tournament’s all-time earnings, the lefty is the only one inside the top nine without a victory at TPC River Highlands, but he’s 12-for-14 with seven top 10s, six of which since 2018.

6. Collin Morikawa, USA
Holding his own and on tough tracks with a new caddie, but he’s gone six starts without a top 15. TPC River Highlands is a soft landing and where he placed T13 last year. Scoring average in the last five rounds here is 65.40.

5. Ben Griffin, USA
There isn’t a golfer in the field with more self-confidence right now. He gave us a feel for it immediately after breaking through at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with Andrew Novak) and arrives here on a T8-Win-2nd-T10 run.

4. Cameron Young, USA
The only PGA TOUR non-winner in the Power Rankings is seeking to become the first to break through in a Signature Event and on a track where he signed for an 11-under 59 last year. Eventually settled for a T9.

3. Patrick Cantlay, USA
Forever in the history book for carding a 10-under 60 at TPC River Highlands as an amateur in 2011, but he’s also been a perennial force. Since 2018, he’s 7-for-7 with a pair of top five and no worse than a pair of top 15s.

2. Xander Schauffele, USA
The 2022 Travelers champ has a scoring average of 66.19 across his last 20 rounds at TPC River Highlands with no worse than a T20 (2020) in those four starts. Closed strong with a 1-under 69 for a T12 at the U.S. Open.

1. Scottie Scheffler, USA
It’s hard to win a U.S. Open (where he finished T7 Sunday), but it can be harder to win a shootout, yet here he is as the defending champion after last year’s lights-out performance. Averaged 64.88 in the last eight rounds here!