Travelers Championship preview: What to know for TPC River Highlands

After the PGA Tour's first positive COVID-19 test, the circuit heads to Cromwell, Connecticut, for the Travelers Championship with a heightened awareness that the threat of coronavirus is very real.

A loaded field of 156 golfers will take on TPC River Highlands for the $1.3-million first-place prize. Seven of the top 10 players in the world - and 14 of the top 20 - will be in attendance.

Here is everything you need to know.

When: June 25-28
Where: TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut

How to watch

Featured-group coverage can be streamed online wherever PGA Tour Live is available in your area from the first tee shot until 3:00 p.m. ET daily.

The field

For the third week in a row, the field for this week's PGA Tour event is stacked. Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, and Dustin Johnson headline the group. Patrick Cantlay will also make his return to the Tour after a four-month hiatus.

The strength-of-field rating takes a slight dip compared to last week's RBC Heritage, but 72 world-ranking points are up for grabs for the third consecutive week.

Featured groups' tee times (ET)

Group: Jon Rahm, Chez Reavie, Tyler McCumber
Thursday - 7:25 a.m.
Friday - 12:40 p.m.

Group: Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson
Thursday - 7:35 a.m.
Friday - 12:50 p.m.

Group: Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth
Thursday - 12:40 p.m.
Friday - 7:25 a.m.

Group: Tim Wilkinson, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas
Thursday - 12:50 p.m.
Friday - 7:35 a.m.

More groups and tee times can be found here.

The course

TPC River Highlands is a 6,841-yard, par-70 course designed by the late Pete Dye. Though it's one of the shortest courses on the PGA Tour, it's the first venue since the restart that will give players who are long off the tee an advantage. But that doesn't mean shorter hitters don't have a chance. A number of players who don't rely on distance have found success at this event, including three of the last four winners.

Past winners

2019: Chez Reavie (-17)
2018: Bubba Watson (-17)
2017: Jordan Spieth (-12)
2016: Russell Knox (-14)
2015: Bubba Watson (-16)
2014: Kevin Streelman (-16)
2013: Ken Duke (-12)
2012: Marc Leishman (-14)

Betting corner

Here are the odds to win for the top portion of the betting board:

Justin Thomas +1000
Bryson DeChambeau +1200
Rory McIlroy +1200
Jon Rahm +1500
Bubba Watson +2500
Abraham Ancer +2800
Patrick Cantlay +2800
Collin Morikawa +3000
Dustin Johnson +3000
Justin Rose +3000
Paul Casey +3000
Xander Schauffele +3000
Jordan Spieth +3500
Patrick Reed +3500
Sungjae Im +3500

(Odds source: theScore Bet)