2025 Travelers Championship picks: Four long shots to bet at TPC River Highlands
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One thing that the PGA Tour got right over the last few years is the decision to schedule signature events for the week immediately following a major championship.
Not only does it help to sustain momentum from the biggest events of the year, but it also guarantees terrific fields for tournaments like this week's Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and newly-crowned U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun are all set to compete this week.
Scheffler, who finished T7 at Oakmont as a +275 pre-tournament favorite, is sitting in that range again for the Travelers.
The 28-year-old won this event last year in a playoff against Tom Kim.
Scheffler is the only golfer with single-digit odds at TPC River Highlands.
McIlroy (11/1), Schauffele (12/1), Morikawa (18/1), and Patrick Cantlay (25/1) round out the top five on the betting board.
The Travelers has had its fair share of heavyweight winners such as Scheffler, Schauffele, and Dustin Johnson in recent years, but it's also seen some big long shots like Chez Reavie and Harris English lift the trophy.
2025 Travelers Championship picks
Brian Harman (90/1, FanDuel): It's hard to ignore Brian Harman's history at the Travelers, especially at this price.
The 2023 Open Champion has finished inside the top 10 in six of his last seven trips to TPC River Highlands and was the 2023 runner-up behind Keegan Bradley.
Harman's last few starts have been middling, but he's two months removed from bookending the Masters with a win at the Valero Texas Open and a T3 at the RBC Heritage.
Matt Fitzpatrick (90/1, BetMGM): An abysmal start to the season is now in the rear-view mirror for Matt Fitzpatrick. The 2022 U.S. Open champion has made five consecutive cuts, and posted his first top-10 finish at last month's PGA Championship.
We know he has the ceiling to win this tournament, and now his form is starting to come around.
Matt Fitzpatrick has made five straight cuts after a slow start to 2025.
Getty Images
These kinds of prices will be a distant memory if he keeps trending in the right direction ahead, so here's hoping we cash in before the market catches on to Fitzpatrick's resurgence.
Harry Hall (110/1, FanDuel): He didn't play at the U.S. Open, and that should be a good thing for Harry Hall.
The Englishman will be fresh, while plenty of players above him on the odds board will be licking their wounds after getting mopped up by Oakmont last week.
And it's not just the rest factor that makes Hall a worthwhile punt this week.
He's also been in strong form with four straight top-25 finishes at some tough events like the PGA Championship and Charles Schwab Challenge.
Kevin Yu (125/1, Caesars): A boom or bust player, Kevin Yu has finished fourth, T50, MC, and third in his last four outings and has as many top-20 finishes as missed cuts this year.
In other words, if Yu makes it to the weekend, there's a good chance he's going to give you a terrific sweat at a massive price.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
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Do not access sensitive information : Unless you really have to, don't access your bank account or websites with sensitive personal information on a public network. : Unless you really have to, don't access your bank account or websites with sensitive personal information on a public network. Turn off auto-connect : It's convenient to reconnect to the same Wi-Fi network automatically, but it could happen without you knowing and potentially expose your personal information. : It's convenient to reconnect to the same Wi-Fi network automatically, but it could happen without you knowing and potentially expose your personal information. Only visit secure or encrypted websites : You can check to see if a website is secure if it has a padlock icon in your browser's address bar or if the websites start with 'HTTPS.' : You can check to see if a website is secure if it has a padlock icon in your browser's address bar or if the websites start with 'HTTPS.' Log out: If you've signed into an account, even just your Google account, always sign out when you're finished on a public network. How to find free Wi-Fi or public Wi-Fi hotspots almost anywhere You probably can't get a hotspot from home unless you create one with your smartphone (or you happen to live really close to someone who has an unsecured network). There are lots of options for finding free Wi-Fi or public hotspots in businesses like coffee shops, parks, libraries, hotels, museums, restaurants, fitness centers and much more. Some public transportation, like buses or the metro, offer free Wi-Fi. If you're about to head out for the day in search of free internet, try using these helpful apps first: Instabridge -- Android or iOS WiFi Map -- Android or iOS WiFi Around -- iOS Wiman -- Android WeFi -- Android Apps like these display a map of your area or list free public Wi-Fi or hotspots. Most also let you track login requirements and view user hotspot reviews. Some locations, like libraries or college campuses, are generally predictable sources for free public Wi-Fi, but if you're not using a Wi-Fi finder app, it's a good idea to call first to make sure. In addition, your internet provider's network might offer access to hotspots. For instance, AT&T customers can access over 30,000 Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide under its network, as can customers of Cox Communications, Spectrum, Xfinity and more. How to set up and use free Wi-Fi Make sure the device you plan to use is Wi-Fi capable. If it is, turn on Wi-Fi. Once you've arrived at the location where you'll use public Wi-Fi or a hotspot, open a browser and then either open up your computer's network settings or click on the Wi-Fi icon on your screen. Next, select the public Wi-Fi connection you intend to use. If the connection is public, you will now be connected, but watch for an opt-in site to pop up in your browser. Some businesses require you to agree to their terms of service or provide an email address before they'll let you use their free Wi-Fi. Some businesses provide a login and password to their customers and offer a secure network. If the connection you intend to use shows up as secured, look around for the login and password posted in the business, or ask someone for help. Yes, if you're somewhere like a coffee shop, it'd be polite to buy a pastry or a latte while you're at it. This hotspot device from HTC uses an incoming 5G connection to provide Wi-Fi internet access for nearby wireless devices. Andrew Hoyle/CNET How to set up and use your mobile hotspot They aren't free, but if you need an internet connection and have a good cellular signal, a paid hotspot is another way to get Wi-Fi on the go. For example, maybe you're traveling to a rural area with limited ISP options or the Wi-Fi where you're staying isn't as fast as you'd like it to be. Depending on your mobile provider and the plan you pay for, you might already have personal hotspot capabilities. If not, speak with your provider to determine how much they'll charge you for that option. Be prepared to pay more if you're seeking unlimited data. After you've considered pricing, you'll need to decide whether to use your smartphone as a hotspot or purchase a dedicated Wi-Fi hotspot device. Enlarge Image Check your phone's settings for hotspot capabilities. Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET Should I use my smartphone or a separate hotspot device? A hotspot device is a separate device on your mobile plan with its own separate data limit. While the downside is the extra cost, the upside is that you won't have to worry about your smartphone usage eating up your hotspot data. Another positive: If you set a strong password, using a hotspot device to get online is just as secure as any ISP-provided Wi-Fi connection, and it'll often provide a greater range of coverage. We're also seeing a growing number of full-fledged Wi-Fi routers and mesh routers that are designed to get their incoming signal over a cellular connection, such as LTE or 5G. Both smartphone hotspots and dedicated hotspot devices can be used anywhere, although using a smartphone hotspot in public places may be more convenient, especially if you're just trying to get your laptop online for a few minutes. It's worth noting that using a smartphone as a hotspot can be convenient temporarily. For instance, if your mobile provider experiences a network outage, you won't be able to get online. In addition, a mobile hotspot is only ideal until your smartphone's battery eventually runs out. What Wi-Fi options does my internet provider offer? In response to the pandemic, the Federal Communications Commission created the Keep Americans Connected initiative to help people keep their broadband and telephone connectivity in 2020. Additionally, providers like Xfinity, Spectrum and Optimum extended free Wi-Fi to anyone (customers and noncustomers). Most of these programs are no longer active in these post-pandemic times, but it's still worthwhile to check with your local ISP. Occasionally, as in the example of the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, these providers activate hotspots for noncustomers so everyone can stay online even while structural damage may inhibit people from using the Wi-Fi at home. What's the bottom line? Whatever path you take, you have more than one option for getting online. If you're still struggling to find free Wi-Fi on your travels, it's worth checking with your provider's hotspot map (if it offers one) to see if there are any hotspots near you. Just remember to use a VPN if you decide to join a public network and take other safety measures to keep your personal information safe. Find Free Wi-Fi FAQs What's the difference between Wi-Fi and a hotspot? Hotspots are a physical location or device that offers wireless access to the internet. In contrast, Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that devices can use to send information to each other. In most cases, Wi-Fi is accompanied by a Wi-Fi router and an internet service provider that connects all your devices to the internet. Where can you find free Wi-Fi? There are many ways to find free Wi-Fi. First, knowing the difference between a public and private hotspot is essential. Private hotspots are not free. The good news is that most public establishments -- such as businesses, coffee shops, shopping malls, libraries, hotels and even parks (limited for some) -- typically offer free public hotspots. Certain apps like Instabridge, WiFi Map and WiFi Around can help narrow your search for free Wi-Fi hotspots available near you.
