The Travelers Championship today announced that defending champion Jordan Spieth has committed to play in the 2018 tournament. Spieth won the 2017 Travelers Championship in dramatic fashion, beating Daniel Berger in a playoff after holing a bunker shot. The celebration that ensued between Spieth and his caddie, Michael Greller – tossing the club and bunker rake, then chest-bumping – was one of the PGA TOUR’s most iconic moments of 2017.
Spieth’s win at TPC River Highlands came in his Travelers Championship debut. He led wire to wire, finishing at 12-under-par with rounds of 63-69-66-70. His even-par final round allowed Berger to catch him after 72 holes, but Spieth was able to hold on in the playoff.
“We’re excited that Jordan has decided to come back to defend his title,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “Watching the playoff bunker shot and seeing the crowd erupt still gives me chills. Jordan is an amazing player, and we’re all looking forward to seeing what he’ll do this year against some strong competition.”
Spieth, a 24-year-old from Dallas, followed his win at the Travelers Championship with a victory at the 2017 British Open. That gave him three major championships; Spieth previously won the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2015. He will attempt to complete the career grand slam at this year’s PGA Championship.
With 11 PGA TOUR victories in his career, Spieth has been one of the world’s best players since he turned professional in 2012. He was named PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in 2013, then won the PGA TOUR’s Player of the Year honors in 2015, when he won five tournaments, plus the FedExCup title. Spieth has held the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for 26 weeks, and is currently ranked No. 4.
Spieth joins a number of players who have already committed to the Travelers Championship, including Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Paul Casey, Charley Hoffman, Bryson DeChambeau, Zach Johnson and Jim Furyk. The 2018 Travelers Championship will be held June 18-24 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. For more information on this year’s tournament, visit www.TravelersChampionship.com.
View Photos from the 2017 Travelers Championship
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Jordan poses with the winner's trophy after defeating Daniel Berger in a sudden death playoff in the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands
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Chris Berman interviews Jordan after the trophy ceremony
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Jordan kisses the winner's trophy on Sunday night
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Jordan makes time for young fans on the way to the trophy presentation
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The enormity of the shot sinks in as Jordan walks to the green
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The victory is the second of the 2017 for Jordan
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Jordan and Michael celebrate in the moment after the chip-in
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In one of the biggest shots of Jordan's professional career, he jars his bunker shot on the first hole in the sudden death playoff
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Tee shot on No. 9
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Jordan lines up his putt on No. 8
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Jordan's shot on the par-3 No. 8
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Jordan greets fans as he walks off the course with a birdie on No. 18 and sole possession of the lead going into the final round on Sunday
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Jordan reacts after his third birdie in four holes
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Jordan's putt to take the outright lead on the final hole on Saturday
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Tee shot on No. 14
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Jordan and Patrick Reed walk up No. 3
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Jordan acknowledges the crowd after sinking his final putt in a 1-under round of 69
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Walking up 18
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Tee shot on the par-3 16th
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Jordan finished with a 63 and the top spot on the leaderboard. Read the story
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Jordan follows his drive on the 12th tee
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Greeting fans as he makes the turn on the opening round
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Blasting out of the bunker on No. 9
About the Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship, held in Cromwell, Connecticut, is one of the premier events on the PGA TOUR and part of the FedExCup series. Named by the PGA TOUR as the 2017 “Tournament of the Year,” the Travelers Championship proudly supports the TOUR’s Tradition of Giving Back by donating 100 percent of net proceeds to charities. Travelers, a leading provider of property and casualty insurance for home, auto and business, is the Official Property Casualty Insurance Provider of the PGA TOUR. The company became the tournament’s title sponsor in 2007. Travelers has been doing business in the Hartford community for more than 160 years and has been a corporate sponsor of this event each year since its inception in 1952. Complete details are available at www.TravelersChampionship.com.
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