PGA Columns

Chris Williams : Jun 20, 2:03AM: Chris Williams...

Chris Williams is scheduled to compete at this week's Travelers Championship. If you don't know his name, consider yourself already behind. The former first-team All-American from the University of Washington and 2011 Walker Cupper turned professional for this week's PGA TOUR stop in Connecticut. He won the 2013 Ben Hogan Award and was atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking when he inked the paperwork to play for pay. Williams signed with Excel Sports Management, which represents Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland and Patrick Cantlay, the last of whom turned pro at last year's Travelers. This is the first of four scheduled sponsor exemptions for Williams, who will turn 22 years old on Friday. He's lined up berths in next week's AT&T National as well as the Reno-Tahoe Open (Aug. 1-4) and Wyndham Championship (Aug. 15-18).

Tiger Woods : Jun 19, 1:56PM: Woods (elbow)...

Tiger Woods will not compete in next week's AT&T National due to a strain in his left elbow. In a statement on his website, Woods said, "I was examined after I returned home from the U.S. Open, and the doctors determined I have a left elbow strain. I have been advised to take a few weeks off, rest and undergo treatment. I'll be ready to go for the British Open, and I'm looking forward to playing at Muirfield. I would like to extend my regrets to AT&T, our sponsors and the fans in the Washington, D.C., area. The AT&T National means a lot to me and my foundation. It's especially difficult not defending at my own tournament. It's going to be a great event, and I look forward to being there to provide my support." Woods was clearly in some pain at Merion last week. He admitted that he's been dealing with discomfort since THE PLAYERS, which he won. Look for him to return to competition at The Open Championship on July 18-21.

Kyle Thompson : Jun 18, 10:47PM: K. Thompson a...

Kyle Thompson will play the Rex Hospital Open this week, which happens to be the site of two of his three Web.com Tour victories. Thompson's 2013 campaign has been a poor one to say the least, missing each of his six cuts and falling far down the reshuffle list. TPC Wakefield Plantation could be exactly what he needs to get back on track. His wins were in 2007 and 2011, and the '11 win vaulted him onto the PGA TOUR in 2012.

Keegan Bradley : Jun 18, 10:40PM: K. Bradley...

Keegan Bradley makes his third trip to TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Bradley has steadily improved in this event, following up a T63 in 2011 with a T29 last year. His current form is pause for both confusion and concern. In his last five starts he's gone MC-MC-2-T50-MC. Chances are good that a weak field and a familiar course will yield solid returns, but he still has to go out and perform.

Ryan Moore : Jun 18, 10:36PM: R. Moore twice a...

Ryan Moore returns to the friendly confines of TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Moore has enjoyed himself in Connecticut, twice tying for second and sharing fourth in 2009. His form headed into this week would look bleak were it not for a T13 at the Memorial a few weeks ago. His stats aren't all that enticing either, so rolling the dice with him is a complete reliance on course history.

Derek Ernst : Jun 18, 10:32PM: Ernst back in his...

Derek Ernst came out of nowhere to win the Wells Fargo Championship earlier this year and now heads to TPC River Highlands for his first crack at the Travelers Championship. Since his win, Ernst has two of four cuts, but nothing has amounted to anything more than a T46 at Colonial. His spike is reminiscent of what Ted Potter Jr. did in his rookie season of 2012, winning The Greenbrier without warning. There's still time for him to differentiate himself, but it's likely his week at Quail Hollow will be the only reason he has a 2013-14 TOUR card a year's end.

Vijay Singh : Jun 18, 10:27PM: V. Singh has been...

Vijay Singh heads to the Travelers Championship in the midst of a huge slump. The Fijian looked in good form when he shared 38th at the Masters, but since then things have not gone well. Since then, he's missed four of five cuts with a T80 at the Byron Nelson thrown in for good measure. Given the timing of his slump, one can't help but wonder if the deer antler spray controversy and ensuing legal angels he's chosen to explore are taking their toll on his game.