How to bet the Travelers Championship: Load up on ...

Pamela MaldonadoJun 24, 2026, 06:29 AM ET

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Pamela Maldonado is a sports betting analyst for ESPN.

The PGA heads to TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.

The profile for this week is an elite short-iron player who creates birdie chances, gains around the greens when misses happen and has enough putting upside to win a race to 15 under.

Approach is the foundation, but if we can learn anything from year's past, it's that season-long putting is less indicative; meaning I care more about recent spikes. Is a player solid everywhere else in his game that if he putts lights out, he contends? That's what we're looking for this weekend.

Odds by DK Sports (with ties) and subject to change.

Best bets

Aaron Rai

Top 20 +136

Top 10 +345

Top 5 +790

To win +5500

Rai has the textbook profile: hits fairways, has elite short irons and avoids mistakes. He's first in accuracy and in the top 16 on approach, tee-to-green and around the green. The putting is the question mark here, but you're not betting the putter. Rai hits with control and if he does so again this week, we know he's capable of spiking with the putter, having gained nearly seven strokes to win the PGA Championship. Plus, he finished T24 and T17 on the course in back to back years losing with his irons, something he's done just twice all season. He has the template to win.

Scottie Scheffler

Top 5 -102

To win +450

Scheffler's profile is pure Travelers DNA; first on approach and from tee-to-green, and third in greens in regulation. He's a proven winner on tour but also proven on this course as he won the 2024 version and has recently finished top six in two of his last three starts. He's stayed neutral around the green all season, but because his ball-striking is so elite and poa annua (annual bluegrass) is his best putting surface, a spike putting week is in the cards. His ball-striking alone creates too many looks.

Other bets and DFS advice

Play:

Sam Burns, $9,300: Burns is humming right now as he's sixth on approach and second in putting. If Travelers becomes a pure ball-striking contest, normally I wouldn't consider Burns, but his irons have been hot as of late, gaining strokes in four straight events including over five strokes in two of his last three starts. Pair that with his putting genius -- especially if this becomes another putting contest -- Burns is the look. He's volatile because he's a short-gamer first over ballstriker, but he has the form. I like Burns (+2200), but +188 for a Top 10 doesn't entice.

Fade:

Tommy Fleetwood, $10,300: Fleetwood could win, but this version of Fleetwood is not the 2025 version of Fleetwood that was knocking on the door. The thing I don't love compared to last year is that he's 54th on approach. In 2025, he arrived gaining over one stroke per event and this year that's slashed in half. He's still a fit, but he's just more of a force than a comfortable piece. $10,300 is a price on the version we know can contend, but Fleetwood doesn't have the same juice this time around.

Matt Fitzpatrick, $10,000: You need birdie production from Fitzpatrick -- especially if you're paying top dollar -- and that's the exact area he lacks. Fitz has a clean profile, top five with his irons and short game, but you need to go low -- at least 13 strokes low -- but giving yourself looks doesn't matter if you're converting.