The BWD Tournament Hole of the Week: June 22 – 25, 2017. The 17th at TPC River Highlands, Home of Travelers Championship.

Tournament: Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT
Hole: 17th – Par 4, 420 Yards
Architect(s): Robert Ross and Maurice Kearney – 1928
Pete Dye (redesign) – 1982
Bobby Weed (renovation) – 1989

Architectural Summary:
The penultimate hole at TPC River Highlands is a par four measuring 420 yards that offers a distinct challenge from tee to green. From the tee, club selection and accuracy will be critical as the hole plays around a lake. The landing area is situated between two fairway bunkers located to the left, between 210 and 285 yards, and the water hazard. The landing area widens to 36 yards, at its widest point, roughly 240 yards from the tee. Competitors will likely favor a right-to-left shot shape with a 3 wood or Hybrid to ensure they find the fairway. Misses to the left will lengthen the second shot as well as offer a difficult, uneven lie from the rough or a long carry over water from one of the fairway bunkers. Should players successfully find the fairway, an approach of 170 yards or less over the pond will be left to the green. Competitors will not want to come up short of the green as they will find the water hazard. The slightly elevated green measures 32 yards deep by 26 yards wide and slopes from back-to-front, towards the pond. Subtle undulations on the generous green will emphasize finding the correct quadrant in order to score well.

Statistical Analysis:
In 2016, the 17th hole played as the third most difficult hole with a scoring average of 4.13 (60 Birdies, 293 Pars, 92 Bogeys, 11 Doubles, and 2 “Others”).

Fun Facts:

  • During the 2016 tournament, Jim Furyk shot the lowest 18-hole score in PGA TOUR history (58). Furyk recorded a par on the 17th and 18th holes after playing -12 through 16. The 58 at TPC River Highlands was Furyk’s second sub-60 round on Tour; he also shot a 59 in the 2013 BMW Championship.
  • The 17th hole is part of TPC River Highlands’ “Golden Triangle” that consists of holes 15-17 that circle a four-acre lake.
  • As the TOUR moves to TPC River Highlands this week, competitors will take on a course almost 1,000 shorter than the U.S. Open test at Erin Hills (7,741 yards) last week. The Cromwell course measures just 6,841 yards (par 70).