This week the PGA Tour returns to TPC River Highlands for the Travelers Championship. Hunter Mahan, the 2007 champion and a member of the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team, will return to contend for his second PGA Tour win. We caught up with TPC River Highlands PGA Professional Jack Hunter to talk about what to expect.

PGA.com: The Travelers Championship has been a staple on the PGA Tour for many years now. No matter what the date -- and it's typically the week after the U.S. Open -- you always seem to draw a great field. What is it about the tournament that keeps the big names coming back?

Fresh off a tie for sixth at the U.S. Open, Hunter Mahan returns to the scene of his first Tour win. (Redington/Getty Images)

Hunter: I think part of it is the hospitality that they receive in this area. Hartford embraces the tournament and over time it was the second largest attended event on Tour outside of Scottsdale. I remember one time a player said, 'the fans bring us out. They're knowledgeable here and we like that.'

Another reason is the course. We have a great course here in TPC River Highlands that's annually noted to have four of the best finishing holes on Tour.

Lastly, Travelers is the sponsor over the last couple of years, and has brought the tournament a long way to make it the best Tour event out there from a player, spectator, and family standpoint. They focus on making it a great experience for everyone.

PGA.com: The Travelers takes pride in its tournament winners. Few people would argue against the fact that when Hunter Mahan won in 2007, it was essentially his coming out party. From there, he went he has contended several times since and was a key player on the winning U.S. Presidents Cup team in '07 and U.S. Ryder Cup team in '08. What does that mean to the folks at the Travelers?

Hunter: It would be hard for me to speak on behalf of the Travelers people, but from a club standpoint and membership standpoint, it's exciting to see the success of our champions after they win. Everyone gets excited. Whoever wins seems to have quite a bit of success out there.

Look at Woody Austin. He won here in 2004 and has done quite well since then. Our champions... it's almost like they become a part of the family at the club.

PGA.com: The practice facility at TPC River Highlands has gotten rave reviews. Before, the course had a relatively small range just behind the clubhouse. Now, you have a facility that's pretty much second to none. Can you tell us a little about it?

Hunter: The practice facility is on about 23 acres of land, compared to about 8, which is what we had with the old one. Last year was the first year Tour players were able to use it. We went from having enough room for 12 guys to practice at once to having 45 guys able to practice at once.

I think they players love the big target greens, and the large short-game area is also a big hit.

It's also important to note that facility is a First Tee of Connecticut facility.

PGA.com: When I think of the Travelers, so many dramatic moments come to mind -- New Englander Brad Faxon winning in a playoff in 2005; a 49-year-old Peter Jacobsen winning in 2003; Connecticut's own J.J. Henry winning in 2006; and of course Mahan's playoff win over Jay Williamson in '07, just to name a few. Which is your favorite and why?

Hunter: For me personally, it's all exciting, but when you have a finish like we had with Brad Faxon and Tjaart Van Der Walt, it doesn't matter what the names are... Faxon made the cut on the number that week, then goes and shoots 63 in the final round to get in a playoff.

He finds a bunker with his drive in the playoff, but hits a spectacular shot to five feet. Then, Van Der Walt hits the stick with his approach and the ball stops eight feet from the hole.

As it was, Van Der Walt missed the putt and Faxon made his for the win.

It doesn't get better than a finish like that.

PGA.com: Coming in under 7,000 yards, TPC River Highlands is far from the longest course on the Tour schedule. Sure, it's a par 70, but for a smaller course, it certainly packs a punch when it comes to excitement, doesn't it? Earlier you mentioned the closing holes. Can you talk more about them?

Hunter: No. 15 is a classic risk/reward hole. From as far back as you can take it, it's 296 yards. You can go for the green, but there's water left and trees right to an elevated, undulating green with a front and back shelf. Even if you feel like you're in a good position, getting up and down isn't a piece of cake.

No. 16 is a short par 3, about 178 yards all the way back, but over water all the way. It's usually windy over there and usually that wind is swirling, which makes club selection a difficult thing. We've seen holes-in-one there and also some very high numbers.

No. 17 probably is sort of our signature hole. It's not as difficult as Nos. 15 and 16. It's about 420 yards. It's simple in a sense because the Tour guys can hit 3-wood or hybrid to set up a short approach, but the approach is all over water.

Once you get through those, No. 18 is really almost a let up after those three. It's 440 yards and if you hit a good drive, you'll have a short iron in. The green is narrow and falls off quickly. Behind the green is a downhill slope. You can score well coming in, or if you're off target just a little bit, guys will get back in it.

With the 6,900-yard layout, this course sets up for players to be able to go out and score well, but the courses defense is Mother Nature, especially if it's fast and dry. Last summer we got a lot of rain, it was real soft and the winning score was 18 under.

The bottom line is that everyone has a chance to win here. It's not a bomber's course. This course brings everyone into play.