HARTFORD, Conn. — A large part of what’s made the Travelers Championship a two-time Player’s Choice award winner for best tournament on the PGA Tour is missing this week at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell — the fans.
Whether Jordan Spieth holing out from the bunker to clinch the tournament in 2017, or New England native Keegan Bradley charging up the leaderboard, the fans helped make those moments with thunderous cheers or a booming “Keeeeeegs” chant.
Raucous fanfare has helped make the Travelers Championship a great draw year in, year out. But like the first two stops on the restarted PGA Tour, the Travelers Championship will be held without fans, leaving some emptiness on the course and increased quietness.
“I feel like the support obviously at home is massive,” Spieth said, referencing the Charles Schwab Classic in his home state of Texas. “But in general here you have just some of the loudest and biggest and best crowds of any tournament that we see on the PGA Tour. It’s a bit of a shame, obviously, but the fact that we’re able to play I think is great.”
Spieth is one of many in this week’s field of 156 golfers who have experienced firsthand what the crowds and Cromwell can do, whether it’s their reactions to a playoff win, a Sunday surge or a perfectly placed approach shot. As the tour enters its third straight week without fans, golfers across the board are adjusting at different rates.
Defending champion Chez Reavie described Travelers as the “first week back to normalcy” since play has resumed. The Travelers Championship, unlike the two preceding tournaments — the Charles Schwab Challenge and the RBC Heritage — is being held at its usual spot on the calendar. The Charles Schwab Challenge, usually held in late May, began the second week of June this year. The RBC Heritage was played in mid-June instead of its usual April.
Brooks Koepka, the fourth-ranked player in the world, will make his fifth career start at TPC River Highlands on Thursday. He played in both of the first two events, placing T-32 and seventh respectively, and is still having a hard time adjusting.
“It doesn’t feel normal at all,” Koepka said, whose brother Chase, along with David Pastore, qualified for spots at Travelers on Monday. “If you think about it, every time I’ve ever played, it’s been in front of fans. I think the last time really we had no fans was on the Challenge Tour. It’s a bit odd when you’re playing. You make a 30-foot birdie putt, 40-foot birdie putt, and it’s just like when you’re playing with your friends. It’s kind of weird.”
Nick Watney was the first golfer on tour to test positive for COVID-19, with the announcement coming before the second round at the RBC Heritage last week. After being tested upon arrival at TPC River Highlands, Cameron Champ tested positive for COVID-19 as well and withdrew from the tournament, the Tour said.
Koepka said he didn’t feel nervous taking his test this week knowing that he’s taken social distancing seriously.
Koepka travels with a personal chef, doesn’t fraternize with anyone else on tour, and even brought his own workout equipment with him. He said that anyone that travels with his group is essentially on lockdown when not at the course.
“There’s no reason that anybody should leave the house,” he said. “I’m taking this seriously. I’ve had three months off with an injury, four months off with injury, three months off with sitting at home because of COVID. I’ve been eager to go play. I’ve been dying to get out here and do what I do, and I love playing, I love competing, and there’s reason for me to go out and do anything other than come to the golf course.”
Regarding the fans, Koepka said Travelers is probably one of the more fun tournaments to attend on the tour’s schedule.
The changes affect more than the players, too. Tournament director Nathan Grube was leaving the practice facility on Tuesday when he looked up at the road that lines the outskirts of the range. In years past, cars full of fans would line the road to watch players hit balls from afar.
On Tuesday, the road was empty.
“That’s one of those times where it hits you,” Grube said. “Like, oh my gosh, this is just so different. It’s this weird mix of sadness where it’s like, ugh, man. I’ve gotten emails and phone calls from fans who have been like, ‘We are going to miss this so much, but we get it.’ Whether it’s the players or the fans, people seem to get it.”
Bubba Watson, a three-time Travelers champ, is as familiar with the fanfare in Connecticut as anyone on tour. He referred to Cromwell as his second home on Tuesday; he won his first professional tournament back here in 2010, which his father, Gerry, got to witness before passing away later that October. He rattled off two more wins at TPC River Highlands — in 2015 and 2018 — and has donated thousands to the tournament’s charity foundation.
“When I think about the droves of people that are normally around 18, it creates its own stadium there,” Watson said. “It’s really remarkable. So it’ll be sad, but at the same time it’ll be great getting out here and letting people watch us play their golf course.”
Unlike Koepka, Watson said he’s begun to adjust to life without fans after the first two tournaments. He said there’s still a focus on putting on an entertaining performance for those watching at home, as well as the few who live on the course and are able to watch live golf from their backyards.
“We understand what we’re going through and what we’re trying to do to create content for the live audience watching the TV,” Watson said. “We’re trying to give somebody a show so they can smile at their TVs and get to do something different. Live sports is what we’re all about, and hopefully we can put some smiles on some faces around the world.”
Despite precautions and empty galleries, life on the tour goes on. Tuesday is often a quieter day at the practice range at TPC River Highlands, though this year appeared busier than usual. Players and caddies packed the tees and putting greens, squeezing in as much preparation for Thursday’s first round as possible. Watson and Harold Varner III were among pairings that played a practice round on Tuesday. Watson and Varner III shared a few laughs as they teed off on the first hole, and like Koepka alluded to, looked more like two buddies playing a casual 18 holes.
But no matter how different the scene may be Thursday, there’s still money and FedEx Cup points on the line.
“It’s kind of hard to build that momentum,” Koepka said. “Especially if you’ve got it going, but at the same time it’s our job so we’ve got to do it and just keep pushing through.”