DEFENDING CHAMPION: Former World No.1 Dustin Johnson shot 19-under-par 261 last year to defeat Kevin Streelman by one shot.

COURSE: TPC River Highlands was designed by world-renowned course architect Pete Dye in 1984 as TPC of Connecticut and has hosted the Travelers Championship ever since.

Originally known as Middletown Golf Club, then Edgewood Country Club, the par-70 got its current moniker after Bobby Weed renovated the layout with the help of Tour players Howard Twitty and Roger Maltbie in 1989. It 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 some dramatic closing holes around an expansive lake.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PRIZEMONEY: US$7,400,000.

PLAYERS TO WATCH …

After experiencing an extremely memorable back nine at Torrey Pines last week – for all the wrong reasons – Bryson DeChambeau will be eager to right the ship this week at TPC River Highlands, where he’s never missed the cut and has posted three straight top-10s.

The big-hitting American has an impressive scoring average of 67.70 at the Connecticut layout and has only failed to break 70 on one occasion in his past 12 rounds here.

DeChambeau, currently sixth in the world rankings, is leading the Tour for driving distance and strokes gained off the tee. It will be interesting to see how he attacks TPC River Highlands, where he nearly drove the green on the 356-metre par-4 9th last year.

RIGHT: Dustin Johnson was victorious here last year, claiming his 21st (of 24) PGA Tour title. PHOTO: Rob Carr/Getty Images.

Paul Casey has got to be one of the most in-form players on the planet at the moment. The English veteran has recorded three consecutive worldwide top-10s – including his share of seventh at Torrey Pines last week, which saw him leapfrog his compatriot Matt Fitzpatrick in the world rankings to automatically qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

Casey also happens to possess an impressive record at TPC River Highlands, finishing runner-up to Bubba Watson on two occasions (2015 & 2018) and never missing the cut from six appearances.

The 43-year-old has an even better scoring record here than DeChambeau (67.17) and has posted four top-5s at the Connecticut course.

72-HOLE RECORD: Kenny Perry fired 22-under-par 258 in 2009 when he defeated two of his American compatriots – Paul Goydos and David Toms – by three shots. Tim Norris, meanwhile, reached 25-under-par 259 when he bested Raymond Floyd and Hubert Green by six shots in 1982.

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

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Jason Day, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Marc Leishman, Cameron Percy, Adam Scott 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