Travelers tournament to become part of PGA's top championship series

[p]The traditional June event at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, is the first tournament confirmed as part of the new elite PGA series set to begin in 2028.[/p][p]The event, which remains as part of the PGA's signature series in 2027, was won in 2024 by world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scheffler-scottie/bXfIuBYu/"]Scottie Scheffler[/a], who lost last month's event in a playoff to Norway's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hovland-viktor/lWxyqX2t/"]Viktor Hovland[/a].[/p][embed guid="9acfa3bf-8ceb-47ad-b37a-cf3a6e9df7b6" url="https://x.com/TravelersChamp/status/2081817132686266744?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Our goal every year is for the Travelers Championship to be one of the best tournaments on the PGA TOUR, so being part of the upcoming PGA TOUR Championship Series is validation,"[/b] Travelers vice president Andy Bessette said.[/p][p][b]"We thank the tour for this opportunity and are excited to partner with them on working hard to deliver a world-class experience."[/b][/p][p]PGA Tour chief executive officer Brian Rolapp announced plans for the new series and a secondary challenger series at last month's Travelers tournament.[/p][p]There will be 23-24 events in the Championship Series, including the four major tournaments, The Players Championship, playoff events and the Ryder and Presidents Cups in a schedule from February through August.[/p][p]The Travelers has been staged in Connecticut annually since 1952 and since 1984 at the TPC course.[/p][p]World number two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]Rory McIlroy[/a] warned that some favored PGA events might be consigned to the challenge series without big sponsor spending, calling one of those second-tier events [b]"a glorified Korn Ferry (developmental tour) event."[/b][/p][p][b]"I just think there's going to be certain events that might lose their stature if a sponsor doesn't pony up $30 million, so that's the tough thing,"[/b] McIlroy said.[/p]