Xander Schauffele
Schauffele has performed well at TPC River Highlands in the past and he is in a prime position to contend this week. Schauffele has finished inside the top 20 in five of his six starts at TPC River Highlands, most notably with a two-shot win in 2022. Among the players competing this week who have teed it up at TPC River Highlands more than once, Schauffle ranks second in strokes gained per round. This par 70 was designed by Pete Dye and two of Schauffele’s nine PGA TOUR wins have come at Dye-designed venues. When we compare this field’s last 50 rounds at Dye courses, Schauffele ranks fourth in strokes gained per round.
Schauffle returns to TPC River Highlands fresh off a T12 at the U.S. Open last week. The 31-year-old was one of only 11 players to gain strokes in every major category at the extremely challenging Oakmont Country Club and Schauffele finished the major with a 1-under 69, which was two strokes away from being the lowest score of the final round.
Schauffele has now produced six top-25 finishes in just 10 starts this season and his ball striking has been the key to his success. Schauffele ranks eighth on the PGA TOUR in SG APP, setting him up perfectly for his return to TPC River Highlands, which is a classic example of a second-shot course. Of the last five winners at TPC River Highlands, four have finished the week top-six in SG APP.
This track is the shortest course to host a PGA TOUR event so far this season and over the last five years, 25% of approach shots at TPC River Highlands have come from 150-175 yards out, which is also terrific news for Schauffele. This season, the San Diego State University product has been deadly from this distance, ranking fourth in proximity to the hole on approach shots from 150-175 yards.
With the Travelers Championship being the eighth and final Signature Event of the season, using Schauffele this week is the right move. As a Signature Event, the Travelers Championship features the PGA TOUR’s best players competing for a huge $20 million purse. Schauffele is the highest-ranked PGA TOUR player I have remaining for my One-and-Pool and when we compare this field’s results at Signature Events since they were implemented last season, Schauffele ranks fourth in strokes gained per round.
The two-time major champion has a true knack for elevating his game when the stakes are the highest and Schauffele rejoining the winner’s circle this weekend with his second victory at TPC River Highlands is absolutely on the table. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Schauffele carries the third-best odds to win the Travelers Championship at +1600.
Past One and Done Tournament Results
The Sony Open: Maverick McNealy (T45)
The American Express: Justin Thomas (second)
The Farmers Insurance Open: Ludvig Aberg (T42)
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am: Collin Morikawa (T17)
WM Phoenix Open: Hideki Matsuyama (T25)
Genesis Invitational: Taylor Pendrith (T50)
Mexico Open at Vidanta: Patrick Rodgers: (T25)
Cognizant Classic: Shane Lowry (T11)
Arnold Palmer Invitational: Russell Henley (first)
THE PLAYERS Championship: Sepp Straka (T14)
The Valspar Championship: Tommy Fleetwood (T16)
The Texas Children’s Houston Open: Tony Finau (T32)
Valero Texas Open: Corey Conners (T18)
The Masters: Scottie Scheffler (fourth)
RBC Heritage: Jason Day (T49)
THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson: Jordan Spieth (fourth)
The Truist Championship: Viktor Hovland (T54)
PGA Championship: Rory McIlroy (T47)
Charles Schwab Challenge: Daniel Berger (MC)
The Memorial Tournament: Patrick Cantlay (T12)
RBC Canadian Open: Sam Burns (second)
U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau (MC)
