Travelers Championship: Steve Palmer's betting preview, lowdown & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Golf, 12.30pm Thursday

Brooks Koepka, the behemoth of modern Majors, turns his mind to a regulation US Tour event this week and may not be fully charged to perform at his best. Koepka, runner-up to Gary Woodland in the US Open on Sunday, admits he struggles to get his juices flowing for standard prizes.

TPC River Highlands, home of the Travelers Championship, is a short, fiddly layout with only two par-fives, and does not seem an ideal venue for Koepka to enjoy himself. At a single-figure price, the favourite is underwhelming.

Viktor Hovland, who starred alongside Koepka in a marquee US Open threeball, makes his professional debut in the Travelers. Hovland's college teammate, Matt Wolff, also opens his account in the paid ranks. Those talented young guns, along with Collin Morikawa, are dangerous.

Palmer's top tip
Patrick Cantlay 11-1

A first-round 73 left Patrick Cantlay playing catch-up early in the US Open last week, dropping him eight shots off the pace, but the cool Californian fought his way back on to the leaderboard and ended the third Major of the season sharing 21st place.

There was no disgrace in Cantlay's Pebble Beach efforts and being out of contention for virtually the entire event means he should have plenty of mental energy left, as well as strong desire, for a River Highlands layout which he relishes.

Cantlay is eager to add trophies to his mantelpiece – two US Tour titles at the age of 27 is an underachievement for a man who was world number one amateur for 55 weeks – and he is making up for time lost to injury. That focus and drive was evident after the last Major, where he followed ninth place in the Masters by strongly contending in the Heritage the week after, and another polished, professional performance can be anticipated in Connecticut over the next four days.

Cantlay has finished in the top 30 in the last five Majors, and in 33 of his last 41 tournaments, including six top-tens this year. His rich potential is being realised, all departments of his game are in top order, and he tees up this week at a track were he fired a round of 60 as an amateur in the 2011 Travelers.

Cantlay has gone on record with his affection for Pete Dye designs. As well as River Highlands, where he finished 15th last year in his first start there as a fully-fit pro, he has Heritage form of 3-7-3 at the Dye-designed Harbour Town. The final-round 64 he conjured to win the Memorial at the start of this month was borderline golfing perfection and similar fireworks can be anticipated in Cromwell.

Next best
Daniel Berger 66-1

Another cocksure American of a similar age can provide the main threat to Cantlay. Daniel Berger, a year younger but with the same amount of US Tour victories, is well suited to this assignment.

Both of Berger's titles have come in the St Jude Classic on the par-70 TPC Southwind and all his best form has been on par-70 layouts, including second place in the 2015 Honda Classic, second in the 2015 BMW Championship and sixth spot in the 2018 US Open.

River Highlands is among his favourite par-70s and Berger was fifth there in 2016 before suffering at the hands of his pal Jordan Spieth the following year, when Spieth holed a bunker shot to beat Berger in a playoff.

Berger had almost five months off with a thumb injury, returning near the end of January, and he has slowly but surely regained consistency through the bag. He has made seven cuts in a row without contending – expect this fiesty competitor to step up a gear on a course he adores.

Others to note
Bubba Watson
The three-time River Highlands champion has been in poor form, but he feels invincible at this venue and rain in the build-up has made it even more inviting.

Jordan Spieth
The 2017 champion will view this as an excellent chance to end a winning drought which is just shy of two years. He is putting well enough to contend and the soft conditions will take pressure off his inconsistent long-game.

Brandt Snedeker
The putting ace finished fourth in the Canadian Open the week before last, carding a second-round 60, and must be respected on an easy set-up this week.

Staking plan
P Cantlay
4pts each-way 11-1 Betfair, BoyleSports
D Berger
1pt each-way 66-1 Sky Bet

The lowdown

Course TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
Prize money $7.2m ($1.26m to the winner)
Length 6,841 yards
Par 70
Field 156
Course records - 72 holes 258 Kenny Perry (2009) 18 holes 58 Jim Furyk (2016)

Course winners taking part Phil Mickelson (twice), JJ Henry, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson (three times), Fredrik Jacobson, Marc Leishman, Kevin Streelman, Russell Knox, Jordan Spieth

When to bet By midday tomorrow

When to watch Live on Sky Sports from 12.30pm tomorrow

Time difference Connecticut is five hours behind the UK and Ireland

Last week - US Open 1 G Woodland (80-1), 2 B Koepka (10-1), T3 X Schauffele (28-1), J Rahm (30-1), C Reavie (300-1), J Rose (28-1), T7 A Scott (35-1), L Oosthuizen (100-1)

Course overview The Pete Dye creation has hosted this event (formerly the Greater Hartford Open and the Buick Championship) since 1984, and was slightly revised in 1989, then 2015, when 50 bunkers were removed. The remaining 69 bunkers were brought more into play. Kenny Perry won with a 22-under-par total ten years ago and Freddie Jacobson reached 20 under in 2011. Both the par-fives – the sixth and 13th – always play well under par and represent the best birdie chances on the course. The 296-yard reachable par-four 15th is also there for the taking. The 481-yard fourth, the tenth, 16th and 17th are the sternest tests. Only the Phoenix Open attracts more spectators to a regulation US Tour event than the Travelers, and many holes have specially crafted viewing spots

Story of last year Bubba Watson completed a Travelers hat-trick, starting round four with a six-shot deficit and ended it with a three-shot triumph after carding a Sunday 63

Weather forecast Wet weather in the lead-up to the event means damp conditions are almost certain, with a mixture of sunshine and clouds, and light breezes

Type of player suited to the challenge All types of players have succeeded at this venue – short-hitters like Olin Browne and Woody Austin have won on the same terrain as bombers like Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. Hitting plenty of greens and putting well is the route to success. Birdies aplenty are up for grabs, so weak putters will be left behind

Key attribute Accuracy

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