One-and-Done Golf Picks for the Travelers

Below, I’ve outlined three players worth a look for OAD pools this week at the Travelers.

For those unfamiliar, OAD pools closely mirror an NFL survivor contest. Players select a golfer each week and earn their prize money at the conclusion of the event.

The catch? Contestants can only use a player once. Additionally, not all prize pools are created equally, which further adds to the game theory.

Golf odds are reflective at the time of writing and are subject to movement.

3 Best Travelers One-and-Done Picks

Justin Thomas (+2500)

Consistency buoyed Thomas to four straight top-20 finishes and six straight top-25 finishes. Now he heads to a venue where he recorded three straight top-10 finishes.

An outstanding short game carried Thomas lately. In his last eight rounds, he ranks second in SG: ARG and sixth in SG: Short Game.

We saw his best approach performance earlier this year at TPC Sawgrass, another Pete Dye design. Three events ago, he spiked to +0.85 SG: APP at Colonial, another short par 70.

Only Russell Henley outpaced Thomas in SG: Ball Striking that week. Plus, bettors saw Thomas’ spike approach potential at the PGA Championship, where he finished T-4th.

At Aronimink, he reached +0.98 SG: APP three times in four rounds. It included two successes north of +1.4 SG: APP.

If the approach play reaches those levels and Thomas continues to putt well, he offers high win equity this week.

Patrick Cantlay (+2500)

Cantlay has struggled to find the winner’s circle, last producing a victory in 2022. If he were to reverse it, history suggests TPC River Highlands offers the perfect opportunity.

Cantlay has finished 15th or better in all eight visits to the Dye design. In his last three visits, he owns a 12th and two top-five finishes.

Although he missed the cut in the U.S. Open, Cantlay continued strong ball-striking metrics. He gained +1.57 SG: BS at Shinnecock, his best output this season.

He arrives in Connecticut having cleared +1 SG: BS in two straight and three of his last five starts. Earlier this year, he contended at the RBC Heritage before fading in the final round.

At these odds, you’re basically asking Cantlay to show he can putt well. In his last six visits to TPC River Highlands, he gained strokes putting five times.

At minimum, Cantlay offers a high floor due to his recent ball-striking successes.

Viktor Hovland (+4500)

Hovland missed two of the last three cuts despite recording outstanding approach metrics.

The Norwegian finished third at the RBC Canadian Open in between. Over his last 12 rounds, Hovland ranks fourth in SG: APP, clearing 3+ in 8.3% of his measured rounds.

Perhaps missing the last two rounds at Shinnecock gives an edge at TPC River Highlands. In Connecticut, Hovland produced strong finishes due to elite ball-striking metrics.

Prior to his withdrawal last year, Hovland reached +2.42 SG: BS in three rounds. In five visits to the Dye design, Hovland never finished below +1.1 SG: BS with three outputs north of +1.7.

The putter will always remain Hovland’s kryptonite. In slightly encouraging news, he reached +1.2 SG: Putting en route to a podium finish north of the border at the RBC Canadian Open.

If Hovland can putt well, he could prove a sneaky winner who helps players gain ground in pools.