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There are just three tournaments before the FedEx Cup Playoffs start, which seems insane because it feels like we were just getting cranking on the year about two days ago in Hawaii. Another PGA Tour season is set to close up shop however with the Travelers Championship this week then the John Deere Classic and Wyndham Championship to touch things off.

Let's take a look at this week's contest.

What: Travelers Championship | Where: Cromwell, Connecticut | When: August 4-7

How to watch (all times ET):

TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday from 3-6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m.)

Online: Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m. on CBSSports.com

Participants and odds

  • Bubba Watson: 14-1
  • Branden Grace: 16-1
  • Brooks Koepka: 16-1
  • Matt Kuchar: 20-1
  • Patrick Reed: 22-1
  • Zach Johnson: 25-1
  • Jon Rahm: 25-1
  • Paul Casey: 25-1

Field strength: C+

It's impossible to put together solid fields the week after a major, so what the Travelers Championship has done here is actually somewhat impressive. There are a lot of potential U.S. Ryder Cup players sitting right on the edge of the eight automatic qualifiers, which will be something to keep an eye on as the week progresses. If Matt Kuchar or Patrick Reed win this week, they will lock up a spot at Hazeltine.

Story to watch: Bubba Watson, Kuchar and Reed will try and garner some momentum before heading to Rio next week for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It's a curious decision to play the week after a major and week before the Olympics, but for Watson, it goes beyond the golf.

"I'm missing opening ceremonies of the Olympics because of the Travelers because it means so much to my family," said Watson at the PGA Championship last week. "Travelers did so much for me and my family, outside of my dad, because what people don't realize is what goes on behind the closed doors, when it comes to cancer like that."

Watson's father died of throat cancer in 2010 after Bubba's first win (at the Travelers).

"Obviously the person that has cancer is in trouble, but at the same time, your family; my mom had a man there for 42 years and then he passed away. So Travelers is always going to be very special to me. So that's first."

Watson is the defending champion here and also won in 2010.

Past winners

  • 2015: Bubba Watson
  • 2014: Kevin Streelman
  • 2013: Ken Duke
  • 2012: Marc Leishman
  • 2011: Freddie Jacobson

Pretty random list of winners here, though Watson winning it twice in six years would insinuate that length matters when it comes to TPC at River Highlands.

Let's look at the picks this week.

Expert Picks (Kyle Porter)

Player Pick Analysis
Winner Paul Casey lost in a playoff here last year and is coming off a top 10 at the PGA Championship last week. He gets forgotten about a little bit among non-American golfers, but he's really had a pretty solid season. Odds: 25-1
Top 10 Zach Johnson has been really solid this summer. Three top 12s in his last four events (including two majors) and has five top 25s at this tournament including a top 10 in 2015. Odds: 25-1
Sleeper Bryson DeChambeau is a drug for me. I cannot quit him. His best finish this summer was a T15 at the U.S. Open, and he missed the cut most recently at the Canadian Open. But you have to think his breakthrough is coming soon. Right, Bryson? Right?! Odds: 80-1

Here are my fantasy picks from our CBS Sports Pick 4 Fantasy Golf groups. Some of these are different than above because you aren't picking with odds. It's just straight up, and the players are tiered off.

You can set your Pick 4 Fantasy Golf lineup now to compete for this weekend's $1,000 prize


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