Reavie Cops Second Career Tour Title at Travelers

By Bob Phillips

Chez Reavie held off a late charge by Keegan Bradley and Zach Sucher
to win the 2019 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands.

CROMWELL—Even though he nearly blew a six-shot lead, Chez Reavie held on and emerged victorious and win the 2019 Travelers Championship. On a hot, sunny Sunday at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Reavie’s skill, endurance and hard work were crucial in his victory against one of the strongest player fields in TPC River Highlands history.

Revie’s heroics at the Travelers led to his second career PGA Tour victory in his 250th Tour event. His first PGA Tour victory was in 2008 at the RBC Canadian Open. By shooting a 69 on Sunday, Reavie finished 17-under-par, four shots ahead of Keegan Bradley (67) and Zack Sucher (67). Vaughn Taylor shot 65 in the final round to finish alone in fourth place at 12-under.

“I knew Keegan was going to come out firing today and ready to go,” said Reavie. “I've played a lot of golf with him. He's a fantastic player. I just was fortunate enough to stay patient and make that big putt on 17 to give myself a little cushion on 18.”

Reavie, who came to Connecticut after tying for third place last week at the U.S. Open, continued his strong play with rounds of 65-66-63-69 at the Travelers. Indeed, his six-shot lead after three rounds represented the largest margin in tournament history. Indeed, on Saturday, the red-hot Reavie went from six strokes behind the leader to six strokes ahead by shooting a record-tying back-nine 28—a round that included seven birdies.

But on Sunday, Bradley made a challenge, cutting Revie’s the six-shot advantage to just one after making a birdie on 15. Then, after both players (who were paired together in the final group) parred at 16, Reavie birdied the par-4 17, while Bradley made a double bogey. The three-shot swing gave Reavie breathing room on the last hole. Reavie finished with a four-stroke advantage over Bradley and Zack Sucher.

The Travelers was the second career victory
for Reavie, who broke a 250-tournament
dry spell.

For Reavie, who had gone 250 tournaments without a victory—the 11th-longest dry spell between a maiden victory and an encore win in PGA history—victory was sweet, indeed. Consider that Reavie, a former U.S. Amateur Public Links champ, underwent surgery on his left wrist in January 2014, cutting his Tour play that year short. He returned to play two events in the fall, but then suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and underwent the knife. Again.

"Those were probably the darkest days," Reavie said. "Just the unknown and sitting at home, not being able to do anything and your mind wandering... "OK, if it didn't work, if I can't play golf, what am I going to do?"

Reavie began his long climb back in 2015. He issed the cut in 11 of 19 tournaments that season—including a really dark streak in which he missed 10 of 11 cuts during the early part of the year, before he started to find any sort of consistency.

“Had long years there in the middle,” Reavie said of his 11-year dry spell on the Tour following his one-over final round. “It was great because it gave me good perseverance and good perspective of what life is and what golf is.”

This year, Reavie opened with a tie for third at the Sony Open in Hawaii and played well again in Phoenix, tying for fourth. He also played steady at the Wells Fargo Championship and at the PGA Championship, finishing in the top 20 in both. Then at last week’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, he tied for third. It was his first career top-10 finish in a major.

“Being in the second-to-the-last group at the U.S. Open last week, that definitely gave me a lot of confidence coming into this week, and in particular today,” Reavie said Sunday from TPC River Highlands. “I played really well on Sunday at the U.S. Open, and I tried to treat this the same as I did then.”

His win in Cromwell propelled Revie into the 12th spot in the FedExCup standings. Reavie has made consistent progress in the FedExCup since his return from wrist surgery. His Travelers ltitle sets him up well for the rest of the season.

“Yeah, making it to Tour Championship would be a goal of everyone at the beginning of the year, and fortunately I'm a long way towards that goal,” said Reavie. “Hopefully I'll be inside that top 30 and be off to the Tour Championship and hopefully make the Presidents Cup team.”

The 2009 Travelers generated approximately $2 million for more than 150 local charities, including the primary beneficiary, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. In addition, Sunday morning began at TPC River Highlands with the 18-Hole Stroll, which benefits pancreatic cancer research through the Lustgarten Foundation, another beneficiary of the tournament.

The tournament annually generates about $70 million of economic activity for the state.

PRIZE MONEY PAYOUT FOR 2019 TRAVELERS

—with staff reports

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