Travelers Championship Past Winners and History

A mainstay on the PGA Tour since 1952, when it was played as the Insurance City Open, the Travelers Championship currently is the second-most attended PGA Tour event.

Like so many of the older PGA Tour events, the Travelers Championship has changed names and venues several times. It began as the Insurance City Open in Hartford, Connecticut. The event was created as a fundraiser by the local Jaycees, who had failed miserably with a turtle race the previous year.

In 1967, the tournament was renamed the Greater Hartford Open, a name it would retain until 2003. From 1973 to 1988, the tournament also bore the name of song-and-dance Rat Pack member Sammy Davis, Junior. Davis often played in the pro-ams.

From 2004 - 2006, it was named the Buick Championship.

The Travelers Championship has been played in Cromwell Connecticut since 1984, and since 1991 at the TPC River Highlands. Prior to that, it usually was played at the Wethersfield Country Club. The TPC River Highlands is he former Edgewood Country Club.

TPC River Highlands is a par 70, 6,844 yard course.

In the past, Canon was a significant sponsor, and employees were encouraged to take vacation time the week of the tournament—presumably to volunteer.

The lowest rounds shot were 60 by Tommy Bolt in 1954 at the Wethersfield CC, and 61 by Kenny Perry (2009), Brad Faxon (2005), Phil Mickelson (2001) and Kirk Triplett (2000) at the TPC River Highlands. Billy Casper won four times, in 1963, ‘65, ‘68 and ‘73; two wins each have been recorded by Stewart Cink, Peter Jacobson, Phil Mickelson, Paul Azinger and Arnold Palmer.

The photo at top is the Kodak Challenge Hole for the Travelers Championship, a drivable par 4 #15 at TPC River Highlands. t

See the complete list of past winners of the Travelers Championship / Greater Hartford Open / Insurance City Open after the break: