Nine Open Championship spots up for grabs at Travelers Championship

 

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) – Kevin Kisner had to wait until a week before the U.S. Open to find out for certain that he had a spot in the field at Chambers Bay.

 

He'll have a little more time to prepare for the next major.

 

As many as nine spots for the Open Championship are available this week at the Travelers Championship.

 

Kisner is not playing, though that shouldn't matter. The leading five players, not already exempt, from the top 20 in the FedExCup will be part of the field at St. Andrews next month.

 

Kisner already has playoff losses at Hilton Head and The Players Championship. His tie for 12th at Chambers Bay moved him up to No. 14 in the FedExCup, making him virtually a lock for the Open Championship.

 

Charley Hoffman (No. 6) and Robert Streb (No. 11) also are set to be exempt. Both won PGA Tour events in the fall. Steve Bowditch, who won the AT&T Byron Nelson, is at No. 18. He essentially needs to make sure he stays in the top 20 after Travelers to be exempt.

 

Everyone else from the top 20 already is in the Open Championship. Daniel Berger, the tour rookie who lost in a playoff at the Honda Classic, is at No. 27 and would need third place alone to get into the top 20. But then, third place would get him to St. Andrews, anyway.

 

The leading four players who finish in the top 12 at the TPC River Highlands also are exempt. The Travelers is the first of three PGA Tour events where top finishers can get into St. Andrews. There are four spots available at The Greenbrier Classic, and one spot at the John Deere Classic.

 

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