PGA TOUR
Travelers Championship
English Wins Travelers Championship In A Marathon Playoff
Harris English claimed the Travelers Championship at the eighth playoff hole—to tie for the second longest playoff in PGA Tour history. The conclusion at TPC River Highlands was won one of the most exciting finishes to a PGA Tour event this season.
English, aged 31, finally overcame fellow American Kramer Hickok after burying a birdie putt at the 18th green from around 15 feet.
More than two hours earlier, both players finished the 72 holes regulation play with fist-pumping birdie putts. English was first in the cup and held the clubhouse lead after holing a putt from 27 feet. Moments later, Hickok joined English at 13-under for the event and forced a playoff when he binned a putt from nine feet.
English and Hickok extended the playoff to eight holes with matching pars over the first seven extra holes. At various times, both players made clutch putts to keep their chances of victory alive. Hickok, who was searching for maiden PGA Tour title, lipped out of the hole on two occasions.
English now boasts four PGA Tour titles and becomes the fifth player this season to win multiple titles after Bryson DeChambeau, Stewart Cink, Jason Kokrak and Patrick Cantlay. The world No. 19 reached the playoff after firing a superb final round 5-under 65.
Hickok, aged 29, began the final round owning a share of the lead with Bubba Watson. The little-known world No. 331 was steady all day and signed for a 3-under 67. His outright second performance eclipsed his previous best result on the PGA Tour, which was in November 2020 at the Bermuda Championship where he finished in a tie for 8th place. In the last 11 Travelers Championships (2010-2020), only three 54-hole leaders—Chez Reavie in 2019; Jordan Spieth in 2017; Freddie Jacobson in 2011—held on and won. Neither Hickok or Watson were able to improve that record.
Marc Leishman climbed to outright third place at 12-under after a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Sunday. The 37-year-old Victorian won the 2012 Travelers Championship for maiden PGA Tour title. The world No. 43, who already enjoyed success this year at the Zurich Classic in April, owns four top 10 finishes this season.
Another Australian Jason Day was in the mix entering the final round one shot out of the lead at 9-under. The 33-year-old was hoping to break a three-year winless drought on the PGA Tour. Day posted a final round even par 70 to remain at 9-under and in a tie for 10th place.
Co-54-hole leader Bubba Watson held a one-shot lead at 13-under gong into the back nine. The 42-year-old was looking to win the Travelers Championship for the fourth time and join Billy Casper with the most wins at this event. Watson, who was trying to return to the winner’s circle for the first time since he prevailed at this event in 2018, dropped six shots over the final five holes. He finished six shots back and in a tie for 19th place.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson moved into contention three shots behind the leaders after carding a 5-under 65 on Saturday. The 37-year-old was seeking to successfully defend a title for just the second time in his career (2010, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am). The world No. 2 could only manage a final round 1-over 71 to finish in a tie for 25th.
The PGA Tour moves to Detroit Golf Club in MIchigan for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Travelers Championship
1. Harris English -13
2. Kramer Hickok -13
3. Marc Leishman -12
4. Abraham Ancer -11
T5. Kevin Kisner -10
T5. Brooks Koepka -10
T5. Hank Lebioda -10
T5. Brian Harman -10
T5. Brice Garnett -10
Other Australians
T10. Jason Day -9
T13. Adam Scott -8
T19. Lucas Herbert -7
T30. Cameron Smith -5
T36. Matt Jones -4
T54. Cameron Percy -2
Photo credit: Drew Hallowell/ Getty Images
