HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) today announced the start of the 2017 Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Many of the PGA TOUR’s top players will compete, including Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Paul Casey, Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk, two-time winner Bubba Watson and defending champion Russell Knox.

The Opening Ceremony begins today at 9 a.m. at the Memorial Garden at TPC River Highlands, with remarks from:

• Alan Schnitzer, Chief Executive Officer of Travelers;
• Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Travelers;
• Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy;
• PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan; and
• Nathan Grube, Travelers Championship Tournament Director.

The event will include a special ceremony dedicating the Memorial Garden in memory of Jay S. Fishman, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Travelers. The space includes plaques honoring former winners of the Travelers Championship who have passed away. A plaque recognizing two-time Travelers Championship winner Arnold Palmer has been added this year.

“We are proud to once again host some of the best golfers in the world at the Travelers Championship and generate funds for hundreds of charities throughout the region,” Schnitzer said. “We view our title sponsorship as a great responsibility to the community, and we wouldn’t be able to deliver a world-class event without the tremendous support from the PGA TOUR, its players, the tournament’s sponsors, the thousands of volunteers and, of course, the fans.”

The Travelers Championship donates 100 percent of its net proceeds to charity and has generated more than $36 million since the event began in 1952. Since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007, almost $13 million has been donated to more than 600 nonprofit organizations throughout New England.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut, is returning as the tournament’s primary beneficiary. It provides a traditional summer camp experience for children facing serious illnesses. The Hospital for Special Care (HSC) in New Britain, Connecticut, which treats more than 250 Connecticut residents with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was named last year’s primary beneficiary in honor of Jay Fishman. HSC will continue to have a strong presence, with a chalet on Corporate Row donated by the tournament to accommodate the needs of ALS patients.

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and HSC have been designated this year’s Honorary Co-Chairs.

Special events will take place throughout the week, including the always exciting contest where pros compete during Tuesday’s practice round for the first hole in one or closest to the pin at The Umbrella at 15½ — a 40-foot-wide floating green in the shape of the Travelers red umbrella logo. The winner receives $10,000 for the charity of his choice.

Celebrities will show their support during events like the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am June 21 and Women’s Day June 22. Broadway star Christopher Jackson of “Hamilton” fame, actor/comedian Kevin Nealon, ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman, former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, 10-time NBA All-Star Ray Allen and other celebrities will participate in Wednesday’s Pro-Am. Designer and entrepreneur Tory Burch and chef and TV personality Andrew Zimmern from “Bizarre Foods” will headline Women’s Day.

Competition rounds of the Travelers Championship will be June 22–25. Golf Channel will provide live coverage from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. EDT Thursday and Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT. CBS will have coverage from 3 to 6 p.m. EDT Saturday and Sunday.

For more information about the Travelers Championship, follow the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.TravelersChampionship.com.

About Travelers

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for auto, home and business. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has approximately 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $28 billion in 2016. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.

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