PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed understanding for Rory McIlroy's decision to withdraw from the Travelers Championship following his disappointing performance at the U.S. Open. McIlroy, who had a late-Sunday meltdown at Pinehurst No. 2, decided to take a break to recover and refocus.
McIlroy, who missed out on his fifth major championship at the U.S. Open, announced on social media that he would be taking three weeks off to rebuild himself. He is expected to return for the Scottish Open and the British Open in July.
Despite McIlroy's absence, the Travelers Championship boasts a strong field of 71 players, including the defending champion Keegan Bradley.
Keegan Bradley and Scottie Scheffler at Travelers Championship
Keegan Bradley, a native New Englander and Celtics fan, is the defending champion at the TPC River Highlands. He recently had the upper hand over Scottie Scheffler, a Dallas Mavericks fan, as the Boston Celtics won the NBA Finals.
Bradley, known for his Boston sports fandom, received a special gift from the Travelers Championship - a seat from Fenway Park, which he described as one of the coolest gifts he has ever received.
Paris Olympics Preview at Travelers Championship
The Travelers Championship will feature 22 players who have qualified for the Paris Olympics, including Americans Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa. The Olympics will be a 72-hole, stroke-play tournament with individual medals awarded.
While there is no team aspect to the Olympics, players like Morikawa expressed patriotism and a desire to represent their countries. The rankings for Olympic spots were finalized after the U.S. Open, with countries limited to two players unless their third- and fourth-best players rank within the top 15 in the world.
Golf's return to the Olympics in 2016 has brought excitement to players like Scheffler, who looks forward to experiencing other sports and the Olympic Village atmosphere.
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