FIRST SIX COMMITMENTS ANNOUNCE
PAST THREE TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS ALL COMMIT TO COMPETE
HARTFORD, Conn., March 2, 2010 – Travelers Championship officials today announced six powerful early commitments to this year’s tournament. Previous winners of the Travelers Championship, Kenny Perry, Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan, as well as Rickie Fowler, Anthony Kim and Stuart Appleby have officially committed to playing in Connecticut’s PGA TOUR event.
“I’m pleased to be able to share this news with our fans so far in advance,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “It means we clearly have a lot to look forward to in June. The players are talking about our event, our facility and our fans. We expect some additional great names in the next few weeks and look forward to welcoming them all to Connecticut.”
Kenny Perry, who will make his 22nd appearance in the Travelers Championship, looks to defend his 2009 title, a year in which he set the tournament record by shooting 22 under par (258 overall). His opening round score of 61 is also the best first round score, achieving the lowest start by a winner. Currently, he is No. 15 in the Official World Golf Rankings and has 14 career PGA TOUR victories.
Six-time PGA TOUR winner and defending British Open champion, Stewart Cink will make his 12th appearance at the Travelers Championship. Already he has had a successful 2010 campaign, highlighted by reaching the quarter finals at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship and finishing ninth at the SBS Championship. He is currently No. 20 in the 2010 Official World Golf Rankings.
Currently ranking sixth in the FedExCup standings, Hunter Mahan came from four strokes back last Sunday to win the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open by one shot over PGA TOUR rookie Fowler. Mahan earned his second PGA TOUR victory, his first since winning the 2007 Travelers Championship. He had a very successful 2009 season, with six top-10 finishes and a runner-up finish at the AT&T National, and he was a captain’s selection for the 2009 President’s Cup.
Rickie Fowler is expected to be a candidate for the PGA TOUR’s 2010 Rookie of the Year award after posting two top-10s in his first six events. His runner-up finish last week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open was his best on the PGA TOUR since his second place finish in a playoff at the 2009 Frys.com Open. The 21-year-old sensation will be making his second trip to TPC River Highlands.
In less than four seasons on the PGA TOUR, Anthony Kim has earned the reputation as one of the hottest young golfers by recording two victories (2008 Wachovia Championship and 2008 AT&T National), playing an instrumental role in the United States victory at the 2008 Ryder Cup and recording 14 top-10 finishes, including tied for seventh at the 2008 British Open. Currently No. 30 in the 2010 Official World Golf Rankings, Kim is making his second appearance at the Travelers Championship.
Australian Stuart Appleby posted a career-high seven top-10 finishes in 2008 en route to a 17th place finish in the FedExCup standings. At the conclusion of that season, Appleby surpassed the $2 million mark in earnings for the fifth time in his career and finished among the top 55 on the money list for the 12th consecutive season.
The Travelers Championship is the PGA TOUR’s only early summer stop in the Northeast and will be held June 21 – 27, 2010, at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. A complete schedule of tournament events and ticket information is available on TravelersChampionship.com.
