This Change to the 15th at the Travelers Championship is a No-Brainer

CROMWELL, Conn. — Drivable par 4s rock—it’s as simple as that. For example, the 10th at Riviera might be the best hole on property, which just so happens to be one of the best golf courses in the States. It teases the players with a seemingly simple birdie opportunity, but the devilish green and tricky bunkering make par feel like a good score.

This week at the Travelers Championship, the short par-4 15th is one of the best drivable holes we see all season long. Measuring in at just over 280 yards, the 15th at TPC River Highlands rewards those who pull off the shot and punish the wayward attempts—just not enough for my liking, but we'll get to that in a second.

TRAVELERS: How to Watch | Tee Times

The run-off areas around the putting surface are mown down, providing players with a number of options when trying to get up and down. Just on Thursday, we saw players putt from just short of the green, fly wedges onto the surface, and play low chips into the face to kill the speed.

But a simple fix would make the hole so much better.

Just left of the green, water lurks a few steps from the surface. However, after the tightly-mown grass runs out, there’s a thick strip of rough that protects slow-moving balls from finding a watery grave—and I think that’s BS.

I’d love to see the PGA TOUR and Travelers mow down that strip to the same length as the run-off areas, creating a threat that must be avoided off the tee. Now, you might be thinking, “Won’t that deter some of the field from going for the green?”

That’s exactly my point.

Drivable par 4s are at their best when it’s a true risk-reward hole. If players know there’s a good chance a fairway wood won’t run into the water left of the green, they can pound it down the hill with little hesitation.

Just look at Michael Kim’s tee shot from the opening round. His ball got caught up in the rough just a few feet from the water, and he chipped it up onto the green and made a three. To me, he should’ve been dropping and working overtime to save par.

And for the players who would think that makes the hole a little unfair, I'd say this: it's a drivable par 4 on a golf course that measures under 6,900 yards. The winning scores have been 15 under (2025), 22 under (2024), 23 under (2023), and 19 under (2022) the last four years. I think adding a little danger isn't the worst idea in the world.

RELATED: Yardage at the Travelers and KPMG Women's PGA on Thursday? Nearly Identical

Taking that strip of rough down to fairway length will make some players shy away, but those who are able to thread the needle will earn themselves an up-and-down opportunity for birdie. For the players who lay back, they have to control a spinny wedge into a green ready to reject any shot hit off line thanks to its severe ungulation.

A true risk-reward hole that marks the beginning of a tough closing stretch. But maybe most importantly, it would provide thrills all weekend long, especially on Sunday as players try to win the tournament.

I can already see hanging heads, late on a Sunday afternoon, as balls sail left of the green. That, folks, would be the good stuff.