Travelers Championship to Proceed Without Spectators

CROMWELL, CT — Since 1952, the PGA Tour has annually stopped in Connecticut, with some of the biggest stars in golf history having their names engraved on the championship trophy. From Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Greg Norman to Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth, the top champions in the game have excelled at the tournament, whether it be the Insurance City Open, the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open, the Buick Championship or the current Travelers Championship.

With the new coronavirus pandemic causing disruption of the majority of the sports world, the Tour announced Thursday that the Travelers Championship, scheduled for June 25-28, will be a TV-only event this year, with no spectators allowed.

"Conducting the tournament without crowds on-site is in the best interest of protecting everyone, including the Connecticut community at large," tournament director Nathan Grube said in a written statement. "We are committed to delivering a world-class PGA Tour event that provides 100 percent of net proceeds to worthy causes throughout the region. This will include supporting our core charity partners, as well as organizations dedicated to COVID-19 relief efforts. We appreciate the support of the PGA Tour, and we will continue to work with them and follow the recommendations and regulations of local, state and federal government agencies to ensure the safety of those essential to conducting the tournament. We thank everyone for their patience as we work through the details and will share additional updates as appropriate."

Tournament action will be broadcast on CBS and the Golf Channel.

Andy Bessette, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Travelers, said, "We look forward to the return of golf and fully support the PGA Tour’s decision to conduct the tournament without fans on-site this year. The health and safety of all who attend our event is the top priority, and conducting the tournament without crowds on-site is in the best interest of protecting everyone, including the broader community. We’ll miss the energy that our fans bring to TPC River Highlands every year, but there’s no doubt we will feel the players’ excitement in our living rooms as we watch the tournament on CBS and the Golf Channel. The Travelers Championship has a way of connecting us all, and we’re focused on continuing to deliver a world-class event. Most importantly, the Travelers Championship will continue to provide 100 percent of its net proceeds to charity, helping local nonprofits at a time when they need it most. In addition to the tournament’s usual charitable partners, organizations dedicated to COVID-19 relief efforts will also benefit from this year’s event. We appreciate the ongoing support of the PGA Tour, the players, the media, additional tournament sponsors, our community and the fans."

Those who purchased tournament tickets through Ticketmaster will automatically receive a full refund within 30 days, Grube said. Fans interested in contributing to tournament charities can do so by visiting TravelersChampionship.com.