| Betting Analysis
Travelers Championship picks 2025: The one guy who can beat Scottie Scheffler this week
As is often the case with this new PGA Tour schedule, there's no time to rest, not for the best players in the world nor for us gamblers. Straight from the U.S. Open to the final Signature Event of the year, the Travelers Championship.
That means many of golf's elite, among them Scottie Scheffler, will be on hand in Cromwell, Conn. Scheffler is defending his title, while the likes of Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffle will look to build off solid finishes at Oakmont. J.J. Spaun, the U.S. Open champion, will also be teeing it up.
The Golf Digest betting panel is comprised of a tour coach reporting anonymously from the grounds of TPC River Highlands, Pat Mayo of Underdog/Mayo Media Network, Brandon Gdula of numberFire/FanDuel, Andy Lack of the Inside Sports Network, your two authors and Keith Stewart, the CEO of Read The Line. Stewart, our newest member of the panel, is our new betting content partner as well.
Scroll down for our complete betting analysis of the 2025 Travelers Championship:
Travelers Championship picks 2025: Our Experts’ Outright Predictions
Anonymous Swing Coach of the Week: Scottie Scheffler (+300, Bet365) — If you’ve been betting the chalk with me this season, we’re up money. It’s time to go back to the well. Scheffler hit the ball great at Oakmont, he just struggled on those difficult greens, which we should give anybody a pass on. It won’t be a surprise when he adds to his win total this week.
Pat Mayo, Underdog/Fantasy National, Mayo Media Network analyst: Collin Morikawa (18-1, FanDuel) — Once my favorite player bet on tour, I’ve been off Kawa for some time now. But like anyone in recovery, there’s bound to be a relapse or two. And he sucked me back in at the U.S. Open. After floundering with his game after gagging away Bay Hill, Morikawa’s irons returned, BIGLY, at Oakmont. He was best in the field by almost three strokes on approach. He just happened to lose -8.8 on the greens. The last five times he’s lost at least 2.5 strokes in a tournament he’s gained at least 2.7 in his following start.
Brandon Gdula, FanDuel/numberFire managing editor: Justin Thomas (30-1, FanDuel) — I think we can do this again with JT at a course that has enough in common with Harbour Town, where he won this year, coming out of his missed cut at Oakmont. Thomas’ statistical ceiling is third-best in this field over the last 50 rounds behind just Scheffler and McIlroy, who have seven combined wins in that stretch. Thomas absolutely can get another one.
Keith Stewart, PGA, Read The Line: Viktor Hovland (35-1, DraftKings) — You will need scoring this week and a player who can stare down Scheffler. Viktor Hovland can do both and proved it by beating the World No. 1 by two shots at Oakmont. Hovland shared with the media in Pennsylvania that he is close. One of the most confident players on tour when he’s trending, I love his fit this week. Viktor was third in the field on approach and second tee-to-green at the U.S. Open. The putter was only positive for two rounds in Pittsburgh. Get the flatstick going in Hartford, and he’ll have another trophy at home.
Stephen Hennessey, Golf Digest managing editor: Sam Burns (35-1, FanDuel) — I’m going to buck what you’ll read from most experts this week. I love the way Burns handled the unfortunate situation on the 14th hole on Sunday. He took it on the chin and never complained. He’s playing as well as anybody right now, nearly winning in Canada and then leading for most of the U.S. Open. The way he’s hitting his irons and putting, TPC River Highlands should be another good fit for him, and it’s not exactly a grueling test to bounce back from last week’s disappointment.
Christopher Powers, Golf Digest senior writer: Jordan Spieth (50-1, FanDuel) — Second in the field in SG/approach last week? Sign me up. I’m of the belief that he does not belong on the U.S. Ryder Cup team as of this writing, but that can certainly change with a win this week. Oddly enough, he’s played quite poorly at TPC River Highlands since winning here in 2017, but he was riding the struggle bus the majority of those years. This week he comes in running hot with the irons and hungry for another drought-ending win.
Andy Lack, Inside Sports Network: Xander Schauffele (16-1, FanDuel) — Xander Schauffele is quietly rounding into form, and a backdoor top-15 finish at the U.S. Open where he gained strokes in all four major categories was indicative of a player that is trending back toward the best version of himself. Schauffele is already a former champion at TPC River Highlands, and I fully expect him to compete here once again.
Past results: We have another (easy) winner, with Andy Lack cashing in on Scottie Scheffler’s PGA Championship victory at +500. That’s Andy’s first win of 2025 and gives our panel nine individual victories in 2025.
Travelers Championship picks 2025: Sleepers/Dark Horses Who Could Win
Tour coach: Cam Young (50-1, FanDuel) — T-4 the past two starts is the type of golf we got accustomed to seeing from Cam Young. He’s as familiar as anyone with these type of Poa greens, and so I think it’s the perfect spot for him to get that elusive first win.
Mayo: Tom Hoge (125-1, BetMGM) — One of the better wedge players in the field, fingers crossed Hoge can convert enough birdie chances when he hits it inside 15 feet on the regular.
Gdula: Hideki Matsuyama (60-1, FanDuel) — Matsuyama has better form than the results would suggest; he just hasn’t put everything together all at once. He’s got two top-25 results in two starts at TPC River Highlands, as well, and he was just seventh in SG/approach at Oakmont last week.
Stewart: Nick Taylor (110-1, DraftKings) — Nick Taylor plays well on short positional courses. Trending after a fourth-place finish at The Memorial, Taylor has won at Pebble Beach, Oakdale Country Club (RBC Canadian Open), and Waialae Country Club (2025). A final-round closer in every way, take Taylor while his putter is hot, and the venue suits his stellar form.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Cam Young (50-1, FanDuel) — Once you’re on the Cam Young train, it’s tough to hop off. Show me just a little life like the last two weeks, and I’m back to donating money to the sportsbooks in the name of a Cam Young victory.
Powers, Golf Digest: Cam Young (50-1, FanDuel) — Doesn’t take much for me to buy back in on this guy.
Lack: Daniel Berger (50-1, FanDuel) — Daniel Berger’s ball-striking significantly improved after two down weeks at Colonial and Memorial, and I fully believe the former Ryder Cupper is back on track to recording his first PGA Tour victory of 2025. Berger is an incredibly accurate driver of the ball and a great middle to short iron player, two skills that will be on full display at TPC River Highlands.
Travelers Championship picks 2025: Players We’re Fading
Tour coach: Sam Burns (28-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — It’s always smart to fade a player off a tough loss in a major. The emotion and energy of a weekend with the most pressure of anyone in the field will make it tough to bounce back the following week.
Mayo: Rory McIlroy (12-1, FanDuel) — No chance he wants to be here this week.
Gdula: Rory McIlroy (12-1, FanDuel) — McIlroy played well at Oakmont after a slow start and has played well at TPC River Highlands in the past. With that said, his current ball-striking isn’t really on par with a 12-1 number, and he was locked in ball-striking-wise at this course when he’s played it in the past.
Stewart: Rory McIlroy (12-1, FanDuel) — A grip on your club is like a grip on your world. Rory McIlroy is not in a happy place, and after a grueling test at Oakmont, I’d bet he’s ready for a nice, long break from everything.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Rory McIlroy (12-1, FanDuel) — The guy’s talking about how it’s tough to get motivated for an event like the U.S. Open. I’m not sure how that helps you beat an elite field at a signature event. All the power to you if you want to bet Rory, but that’s a big-time No for me, dawg.
Powers, Golf Digest: Ludvig Aberg (25-1, Caesars Sportsbook) — Still getting priced among the elites while not playing at an elite level. Pass.
Lack: Justin Thomas (25-1, BetMGM) — I do believe Justin Thomas will be more comfortable at TPC River Highlands, a short, positional, less than driver wedge-fest, than he was at Oakmont and Muirfield Village the last two weeks. With that being said, Thomas’ iron play has looked shaky over the last couple of weeks, as he has now lost strokes on approach in three consecutive starts.
Travelers Championship picks 2025: Matchups
Tour coach: Sepp Straka (-111) over Patrick Cantlay (Bet365) — I’ll gladly take Straka’s form over Cantlay’s. Cantlay has the course history, but that’s why we’re getting these attractive odds. Straka’s win at the Truist came on another shorter Northeast venue, and his ball-striking numbers were good at Oakmont. So I’ll gladly keep riding him.
Mayo: Si Woo Kim (-105) over JJ Spaun (Coolbet) — I do worry Si Woo has never been able to figure out these greens, but this is the all-time letdown spot for JJ.
Gdula: Xander Schauffele (-125) over Patrick Cantlay (FanDuel) — Cantlay’s getting love this week due to great course history, but Schauffele has won here in the past, and his game is really starting to stabilize more toward his long-term trendline.
Stewart: Xander Schauffele (+100) over Collin Morikawa (Bet365) — There’s a plus money head-to-head bet on Xander Schauffele at an event where he has finished first, 19th, 13th in his last three starts!? Collin Morikawa led the field tee-to-green at Oakmont and finished 23rd. The putter let him down and has not been great at TPC River Highlands in the past. In four Travelers starts, Morikawa has missed two cuts. Only one finish inside the top 20 since the Masters, I’ll take the third-ranked player in the world and a positive moneyline.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Shane Lowry (+115) over Tommy Fleetwood (Caesars Sportsbook) — A matchup pitting two of my awful picks from last week. The difference: Lowry hit the ball well and his short game cost him (easy to do at Oakmont). Fleetwood’s numbers are bleaker. A shorter positional course with a bunch of wedges is more of Lowry’s jam.
Powers, Golf Digest: Jason Day (-110) over Adam Scott (DraftKings) — Have to figure Sunday took a lot out of 44-year-old Adam Scott, mentally and physically. While his fellow countryman returned from a mini-injury hiatus to tie for 23rd and was a plus player in every strokes-gained area.
Lack: Keegan Bradley (-130) over Sam Burns (DraftKings) — I will gladly back Keegan Bradley as a slight favorite over Sam Burns, who is still reeling after an emotional two weeks at TPC Toronto and Oakmont. Bradley has already shown his comfortability at TPC River Highlands with a victory in 2023, and his accuracy off the tee and elite short to middle iron play will continue to pay dividends at the Pete Dye design.
Matchup Results from the U.S. Open: Mayo and Powers: 1 for 1 (Keegan Bradley (-110) over Hideki Matsuyama); Stewart: push (Thorbjorn Olesen (-115) over Davis Thompson); Tour coach, Gdula, Hennessey, Lack: 0 for 1.
Matchup Results from this season (Wins-Losses-Pushes): Tour coach: 13-6-2 (up 5.31 units); Powers: 13-11-0 (up 1.81 units); Lack: 12-10-1 (up 1.38 units); Hennessey: 12-11-1 (down 0.07 units); Stewart: 10-13-1 (down 3.45 units); Mayo: 8-13-2 (down 5.28 units); Gdula: 8-15-1 (down 8.08 units)
Travelers Championship picks 2025: Top 10s
Tour coach: Maverick McNealy (+400, FanDuel) — Mav’s having a great year. He made the cut at Oakmont and had a T-5 at the Memorial. These odds are too attractive to pass up.
Mayo: Shane Lowry (+360, FanDuel) — Lowry gained significantly off the tee and on approach in his limited time at Oakmont—he was just a complete disaster on and around the greens. Lowry isn’t usually brutal from greenside and should get back to normal at an easier venue.
Gdula: Russell Henley (+330, FanDuel) — Henley’s T-10 at the U.S. Open was yet another good U.S. Open result, and he now heads to a track that should suit him well. Henley has four career top 20s at TPC River Highlands while gaining strokes from ball-striking in all seven starts.
Stewart: Cameron Young (+400, DraftKings) — A very good Cameron Young heads back to the northeast. Back-to-back fourth-place finishes at the RBC Canadian Open and the U.S. Open. Young shot 59 at TPC River Highlands last year on Saturday and finished ninth. The key to his recent success, the putter. Take one of the best driver, wedge, putter guys on tour and the 10 places.
Hennessey, Golf Digest: Tom Hoge (+650, FanDuel) — Hoge’s one of the best wedge players in this field, and the putter has been better this year. We’ve seen shorter hitters like Brian Harman, Kramer Hickok, etc., excel at TPC River Highlands, and I think this week is lining up nicely for Hoge.
Powers, Golf Digest: Rickie Fowler (+600, Caesars Sportsbook) — Don’t look now, but Rick has been cooking. Top 20 at Colonial, top 10 at Memorial, back-to-back. Now he comes to TPC River Highlands where he’s finished top 20 in his last two trips.
Lack: Collin Morikawa (+160, DraftKings) — Collin Morikawa is coming off his best approach performance in years at the U.S. Open, and now he travels to a golf course that will heavily accentuate short to middle iron approach play. While I have my concerns about Morikawa’s ability to be the last man standing, I’m expecting another elite approach performance out of the two-time major winner.
Top-10 results from the U.S. Open: Hennessey: 1 for 1 (Cameron Young (+900); Everyone else: 0 for 1.
Top-10 results from this season: Lack: 8 for 24 (up 14.3 units); Swing coach: 5 for 21 (up 8.8 units); Gdula: 7 for 24 (up 7 units); Mayo: 3 for 24 (up 0.67 units); Stewart: 7 for 24 (up 2.1 units); Hennessey: 4 for 23 (down 1 unit); Powers: 0 for 24 (down 24 units)
About our experts
Pat Mayo is an award-winning video host and producer of long and short-form content, and the host of The Pat Mayo Experience daily talk show. Mayo helped create the golf stats and research website Fantasy National along with the Race for the Mayo Cup One and Done contest. Mayo won the 2022 Fantasy Sports Writing Association Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year and is a finalist for three FSWA Awards in 2023 (Best Podcast, Daily Fantasy Writer of the Year, Golf Writer of the Year). His 27 FSWA nominations lead all writers this decade and are second-most all-time. Follow him on Twitter: @ThePME.
Brandon Gdula, managing editor and analyst for numberFire, a FanDuel daily-fantasy analysis company, recently won the 2018 FSWA Golf Writer of the Year. Gdula also co-hosts the DFS Heat Check podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @gdula13.
Keith Stewart is a five-time award-winning PGA professional, a betting contributor for Golf Digest and founder of Read The Line, the premier on-site live golf betting insights service covering the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Subscribe to Read The Line’s weekly newsletter here and raise your golf betting acumen. Keith's winning content can also be found on Sports Grid, Bleacher Report and The Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @readtheline_.
Andy Lack is a PGA Tour writer and podcaster from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles. Andy is the founder and CEO of Inside Sports Network, a website devoted to the predictive quality of advanced analytics and golf course architecture. He came to Golf Digest’s betting panel after previously writing for Run Pure Sports, RickRunGood.com, the Score and GolfWRX. In his free time, Andy can likely be found on a golf course. Follow him on Twitter: @adplacksports.