travelers slide show
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The Travelers Championship
A Short History in Pictures
By Michael Rondon
Photo Courtesy Russ Glasson
Wethersfield Country Club, 1957
Bob Crowley, third round leader, and his caddie wait to tee off at the Insurance City Open. The ICO was started in 1952 by the Hartford Jaycees after a turtle-racing event failed the
year before.
Sammy Davis Jr. and Canon Sponsor the Greater Hartford Open,
1973-2002
Sammy Davis Jr. (top left) began sponsoring the Connecticut tournament in 1973 and would stay on for 16 years.
Canon co-sponsored with Davis for three years beginning in 1985. They
would remain the sole title sponsor until 2002.
Photo Courtesy Los Angeles Public Library
Photo Courtesy www.thejumpingfrog.com
Tournament Moves to TPC River Highlands, 1984
After the PGA Tour purchased and renovated a Cromwell course as part of their Tournament Players Club (TPC) initiative, the GHO moved away from
Wethersfield CC in 1984. Major overhauls were again done in 1991 under the supervision of legendary course designer Pete Dye.
Photo Courtesy www.naturevalleygolf.com
Phil Mickelson Defends His Title, 2002In 2002, Phil Mickelson came from behind to win his second GHO title in as
many years. No golfer had successfully defended his GHO title in the 35 year history of the tournament.
Photo Courtesy Michael McAndrews/Hartford Courant
Suzy Whaley Qualifies for GHO, 2002-2003
Former LPGA golfer Suzy Whaley became the
first woman to qualify for a PGA Tour event
in 58 years after winning a sectional qualifier in 2002.
Though Annika Sorenstam would actually play in an event before
Whaley, the CT native was a trailblazer on Tour.
Photo Courtesy Elsa/Getty Images
Photo Courtesy Jim Bourg/Reuters
Bridge Year Plan, 2003
After Canon pulled their funding in 2002, the tournament was unable to locate a title sponsor for ’03. Tournament officials, led by Roger Gelfenbien (right), employed a
“bridge year plan” to collect the $4 million needed to run a PGA Tour event. Gelfenbien and others were able to secure nearly $3.5 million from local businesses, while then-Gov. John Roland (left) and the CT government provided the remaining amount. “We came close to losing it,” Gelfenbien said, “but with the support of our
community, we were able to bring the tournament back for another year.”
Photo Courtesy Uconn School of Business
Photo Courtesy Bob Falcetti/Getty Images
J.J. Henry Wins 2004 Title
Fairfield native J.J. Henry won the inaugural Buick Championship, formerly the GHO, in 2004. He was the first Connecticut golfer to win the event.
Photo Courtesy Life Magazine
Buick Leaves , 2006
After suffering historical losses in 2005, Buick, pulled out of the Connecticut tournament. The luxury car manufacturer had sponsored four PGA Tour events at one point in the early-2000s. By 2009, they had none. The move came late in the golf season and forced the PGA Tour to leave CT off its 2007 schedule.
Photo Courtesy rferl.org
Image Courtesy Buick.com
Bubba Watson Wins Travelers Championship, 2010
The search for a new sponsor was headed by Nathan Grube, Tournament Chair. Thanks to some planning—Grube set up a deal with Travelers
Insurance should a spot on Tour open up—and some luck—a rival tournament backed out at the last moment, allowing CT to capture a spot—
they were back on Tour. Travelers has poured millions into the event, raising the purse and installing a state-of-the-art practice facility at the course. Bubba Watson won the event last year in a dramatic playoff.
Photo Courtesy Russ GlassonPhoto Courtesy Associated Press/Golf
Week
Credits
Special thanks to Roger Gelfenbien, Bruce Berlet, PGATour.com, and Courant.com for providing information.