Xander Schauffele has shared what he noticed about the course at TPC River Highlands after playing the front nine ahead of the Travelers Championship.
The 2024 PGA Championship winner is one of the headline names at the signature event this week.
Schauffele is in good form after finishing T7 at the US Open at Pinehurst No.2, five shots adrift of eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau.
Despite not playing his best golf, the American can have few complaints about a top-ten finish after landing his first major last month.
Xander Schauffele sheds light on changes to TPC River Highlands
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Schauffele revealed how he had noticed the rough on the sixth green was particularly troublesome.
“I just played the front nine, so I noticed those moguls there on six on the right; if you throw your ball in there, you’re going to get lost up in the fescue,” he explained. “Hard to find, just tossing one in there shortly after. Then, some of the green surfaces.
“Austin told me some of the greens on the back nine they’ve made some of the areas a little bit smaller. So, I think overall, the rough is up, and the course might be playing a little bit harder than people are expecting.”
The American also suggested some of the tee shots of the first nine are more visually challenging.
“Out here, it seems it’s visually a little bit more intimidating,” he added. “Some of the fairways are a bit tighter; on one and six, those are the only ones I can see. The course looks the same. They made the green at eleven a little bit smaller, which is fine because it’s a wedge or a nine iron. Overall, I think the course is still outstanding.”
Travelers Championship a very different test to last week’s US Open
After Keegan Bradley won the 2023 Travelers Championship on 23 under, the world’s best players are in for a very different experience compared to last week’s major at Pinehurst.
Birdies and eagles should flow at the signature event, and the majority of the stacked field will probably be glad to return to some normality.
Schauffele will stand a good chance this week. His performance on the soft greens and fairways of Valhalla could stand him in good stead this week.
And with several of the world’s highest-ranked players present in Connecticut, another low-scoring affair could ensue.
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