Some Tips for Attending the Travelers Championship

CROMWELL, CT — The Travelers Championship is just around the corner - June 19-25, to be exact - as the PGA TOUR makes its annual stop in Connecticut for the 66th time. For golfers and kids who love the game, here are some tips to get the most out of the tournament events.

If it's just the tournament proper you're interested in, I'd suggest attending on Thursday or Friday. That way you get to see all the players, even those who may not make the 36-hole cut. This year's 156-player field is among the strongest ever, with three of the world's top five players competing (No. 2 Rory McIlroy, No. 3 Jason Day and No. 5 Jordan Spieth), 13 players who have won a combined 24 major tournaments (McIlroy, Day, Spieth, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, Vijay Singh, Webb Simpson, Lucas Glover, Geoff Ogilvy, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Keegan Bradley and "Mr. 58" Jim Furyk), and seven past tournament champions (Watson, Russell Knox, Kevin Streelman, Ken Duke, Marc Leishman, Hunter Mahan and J.J. Henry).

If you're interested in seeing how these guys work, interact with one another, their practice routines, and possibly getting some autographs, then Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the days to go. Monday features the opening ceremony, the Aetna Tournament Players Pro-Am and practice rounds; Tuesday is set aside for practice rounds and family activities; and Wednesday is highlighted by the Celebrity Pro-Am, with guests including Ray Allen, Geno Auriemma, Chris Berman, Matt Lauer, Kevin Nealon and Tim Wakefield.

I suggest hanging around the practice area, where you'll see the most, learn the most, and likely have some interaction with many of the players. Only a select few play in the pro-am, so the place to be is at the range. You'll see them hitting balls, practicing their putting (there you'll see some bizarre practice techniques), and blasting out of a bunker at the chipping green.

The crowds are very small on Monday and Tuesday, parking is no problem, and you'll probably have the opportunity to get close to the players you like. There are also kid clinics right next to the players' practice area. Hope to see some of you there before the official tournament starts.

Written by Peter Jonaitis
Photo credits: Peter Jonaitis and Tim Jensen