This Week's Main Event

THE TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

COMEBACKERS

It'll be hard not to follow Brian Gay in Connecticut. The guy went 292 starts without a win but now has three W's in his last 43 events. He'll no doubt be a favorite as well as an inspiration at the Travelers, where long-shot reclamation projects abound. There will be struggling former major winners Rich Beem, Mark Brooks, Steve Elkington and Corey Pavin. Paul Azinger and Bob Tway can reflect on what it's like to steal a major from Greg Norman by holing out on the final hole, although they'll miss Larry Mize. Who else? How about Chris Riley, Chris DiMarco, Notah Begay III and Kirk Triplett. Meanwhile, stumbling stalwarts such as Vijay Singh, Anthony Kim and Stuart Appleby, who's missed the cut in six of 15 starts and finished better than 30th only once this year, will attempt to get on track.

Close Calls

In its 57-year history the Travelers has established itself as a bastion of tight finishes (see chart, below). This has been particularly true since the tournament left Wethersfield Country Club in 1983 for TPC River Highlands. The event has been played 25 times at the TPC, and on 17 occasions it was decided by either one shot or in a playoff.

—Compiled by Sal Johnson