Played the week after the U.S. Open since 2007, the tournament invariably attracts a strong field including this week when six of the game’s top-10 will tee up.

Many of the contenders from Brookline make the trip to Connecticut and TPC River Highlands for what has historically been a low scoring event.

Recent history suggests somebody who played well at Brookline will hoist the trophy Sunday night with every winner since 2016 having played the U.S. Open the week before.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: It was the second longest play-off in PGA Tour history but Harris English eventually outlasted Kramer Hickok after eight extra holes.

The pair finished regulation locked at 13-under-par when English holed a lengthy birdie putt at the 72nd hole but it would be eight more holes before another birdie was made.

Hickok and English made seven straight pars each in extra time before English finally nailed a birdie putt from 5 feet for the win.

RIGHT: Harris English survived one of the longest play-offs in PGA Tour history to claim the trophy last year. PHOTO: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images.

It was his fourth PGA Tour victory.

COURSE: TPC River Highlands was one of the Tour’s earliest forays into club ownership when it bought what was formerly known as Edgewood Country Club in the early 1980’s.

Redesigned for tournament play by Pete Dye, the course hosted its first PGA Tour event in 1984 when it was known as the Greater Hartford Open.

A second redesign by Bobby Weed is the course we see today which, although short on yardage still provides a solid test for the world’s best.

Scoring tends to be in the mid-teens under par with the course demanding good iron play, especially over the closing stages where three of the last four holes play around a large lake.

The par-3 16th and par-4 17th often see swings on the leaderboard with both holes historically averaging over par.

Fairways at TPC River Highlands are on the narrow side with several holes heavily treelined though generally enough width for the foliage to be out of play even if in the rough.

PRIZEMONEY: US$8,300,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Fatigue the week after a major is always an unknown factor but contenders in the U.S. Open can often be an indicator.

Harris English was third at Torrey Pines last year and the 2020 winner, Dustin Johnson, was T6 at Winged Foot the years before. 2019 champion Chez Reavie was also T3 at Pebble Beach the week before his victory.

The penultimate hole at TPC River Highlands provides some late drama in the round. PHOTO: Michael Reaves/Getty Images.

On that basis Keegan Bradley might be one to watch this week after a solid showing in his home state at Brookline.

While he has missed the cut here each of the past two years, he is not without form at TPC River Highlands with a T2 finish in 2019 and T8 in 2017.

Joel Dahmen is another who impressed at Brookline though has never found this course to his liking with a T20 his best result in four outings.

Of the top ranked players Rory McIlroy could go either way after what must have been an exhausting week.

His disappointment at his Sunday play will be palpable and teeing up for the fourth straight week might be a stretch too far.

The same may be true for Scottie Scheffler though given his recent run he will have to be among the favourites to start the week.

Australia’s Marc Leishman might also be a player to watch. His first Tour win came here in 2012 and he was just one shot out of last year’s play-off.

He also finished equal best Australian last week at T14, his final round 68 his best of the week and an encouraging sign for this week.

72-HOLE RECORD: 258 (-22, Kenny Perry, 2009)

18-HOLE RECORD: 58 (Jim Furyk, 2016)

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

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Brett Drewitt, Cameron Davis, Marc Leishman and Jason Day,

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