DEFENDING CHAMPION: Chez Reavie defeated his American compatriots Keegan Bradley and Zack Sucher by four shots here last year, reaching 17-under-par, 263.

COURSE: Middletown Golf Club was formed in 1928 and was eventually bought by the PGA Tour in the early 1980s. The Players Course at River Highlands was then established by world-renowned course architect Pete Dye in 1984 and has hosted the Travelers Championship ever since.

The course is perhaps best known for playing host to Jim Furyk’s historic round of 12-under-par 58 in 2016. The 6,255-metre layout features bentgrass from tee-to-green and bluegrass fescue rough, as well as a dramatic closing set of holes around a four-acre lake.

PRIZEMONEY: US$7,400,000.

RELATED: So-called expert tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

World No.15 Marc Leishman won his first PGA Tour title here back in 2012 and has added three top-20s in his return trips since.

The Virginia Beach-based Victorian missed the cut at the Charles Schwab Challenge two weeks ago – but he was absolutely flying prior to the Tour’s 91-day hiatus, winning the Farmers Insurance Open in January and posting two additional podium finishes.

Leishman generally plays well first-up and will be doing so this week, having skipped the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.

RIGHT: Chez Reavie claimed his second PGA Tour title at TPC River Highlands last year. PHOTO: Rob Carr/Getty Images.

The Bryson DeChambeau show continues this week, with the bulked-up American coming off back-to-back top-10s after the PGA Tour’s resumption earlier this month. In fact, DeChambeau hasn’t finished worse than T8th since his first event of the year back in February, posting a total of five top-10s and rising to World No.11.

The 26-year-old Californian finished T8th here last year and will expect to finish somewhere towards the pointy end yet again.

72-HOLE RECORD: American Kenny Perry shot 22-under-par 258 in 2009 when he defeated Paul Goydos and David Toms by three shots.

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Marc Leishman (2012) and Greg Norman (1995).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Cameron Davis, Jason Day, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, Cameron Percy and Cameron Smith.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 5am – 8am)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
Round 4: Monday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 3am – 8am)
*AEST, check local guides