The 2024 Travelers Championship from June 20-23 at TPC River Highlands is fast approaching and recently they hosted their annual media day. There was a bit more pomp and circumstance this year as the Travelers Championship celebrated earning Signature Event status. With the elevated status comes the perks including a field that will include 75-80 of the best players in the world.
Defending champion and native New Englander Keegan Bradley was on hand to preview the upcoming tournament and also relive his victory last year.
During his nearly hour-long conversation with ESPN legend Chris Berman, the discussion regularly circled back to the significance the event has had on the native of Woodstock, Vermont.
Last year after Bradley won he said, “It's an event in my first handful of years on tour I really struggled at, because the pressure of wanting to play well for my family and the local community was too much. I had to learn how to do it.”
With last year as evidence, Bradley has figured out how to do it. The week has also turned into a yearly family reunion with numerous family members making the trip to Connecticut for the tournament. With it have come a number of family traditions that Bradley cherishes. Some of the most notable are the Tuesday night dinner his mom cooks and the wiffle ball game complete with the Green Monster that his two young boys play in each year.
For Bradley, the Travelers Championship has been part of his life since he was a kid. Bradley shared a story about coming to the Travelers Championship, then the Canon Greater Hartford Open, and standing by the driving range. As he was watching David Duval came out to warm up. A young Bradley watched mesmerized as Duval went through his warm-ups.
Now Bradley finds himself in a position to inspire the next generation of New England golfers. He hopes that not only his success at the Travelers Championship but his many accomplishments throughout his career, including his victory at the 2011 PGA Championship will show golfers throughout the region that it is possible to be a PGA Tour star.
*Hero Image courtesy of PGA Tour
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