Golf fans are still buzzing about it. Honestly, if you were watching the final round at TPC River Highlands, your heart rate probably hasn't settled yet. The question of who won Travelers Championship 2025 was answered in the most dramatic way possible: Keegan Bradley. But saying he "won" doesn't really capture the chaos. It was a heavyweight fight in the Connecticut humidity. It was a hometown hero story that felt almost too scripted.
He did it.
Keegan Bradley, the pride of New England, grabbed his second Travelers title in three years. He finished at 15-under 265. This wasn't some wire-to-wire cakewalk where the leader cruises into the clubhouse with a three-shot cushion. No, this was a gritty, come-from-behind robbery on the 72nd hole.
The Sunday Shocker: How Keegan Bradley Won Travelers Championship 2025
Tommy Fleetwood was supposed to win. That’s the narrative everyone had written by Sunday morning. He held the 36-hole lead. He held the 54-hole lead. Entering the final round, it felt like the Englishman was finally going to break his winless drought on American soil.
Fleetwood stood on the 14th tee with a three-shot lead. At that point, the betting markets had basically closed. He looked invincible. Then, the TPC River Highlands "back nine" happened. It’s a stretch of holes that can ruin a scorecard in twenty minutes.
Bradley was chasing. Chasing hard. He had just made a bogey on 14 after a brutal plugged lie in the bunker. Most guys would’ve folded there. Instead, Keegan poured in a 35-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole that absolutely ignited the crowd. You could hear the "USA! USA!" chants from three fairways over.
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Meanwhile, Fleetwood’s composure began to fray. He missed a short birdie putt on 14. He clubbed himself poorly on the par-3 16th, leading to a bogey. Suddenly, the lead was down to one.
The 18th hole was pure theater. Fleetwood was in the middle of the fairway, the tournament in his hands. He pushed his approach shot, missed the green, and failed to get up and down for par. He made bogey. Bradley, playing right behind him, stuck a 9-iron to 6 feet. He didn't blink. He rolled the birdie putt into the center of the cup to turn a one-shot deficit into a one-shot victory.
Final Leaderboard and Payouts
The 2025 Travelers Championship was a Signature Event, which means the stakes were massive. We're talking a $20 million purse.
Keegan Bradley took home the winner’s share of $3.6 million. That is a massive payday even by modern PGA Tour standards. Tommy Fleetwood and Russell Henley shared second place, each pocketing $1.76 million. Henley actually chipped in on the final hole for birdie just to make things even crazier.
- 1st Place: Keegan Bradley (-15) - $3,600,000
- T2: Tommy Fleetwood (-14) - $1,760,000
- T2: Russell Henley (-14) - $1,760,000
- T4: Harris English (-13) - $880,000
- T4: Jason Day (-13) - $880,000
- T6: Scottie Scheffler (-12) - $695,000
- T6: Rory McIlroy (-12) - $695,000
Scottie Scheffler, the defending champ, actually made a late run with a 65 on Sunday, but he just had too much ground to make up after a rocky third-round 72. Rory McIlroy also posted a 65 to join him in a tie for sixth.
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The Ryder Cup Elephant in the Room
There was a weird energy surrounding Bradley all week. Exactly one year prior to this victory, he had been named the captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. People were asking: can the captain actually play his way onto his own team?
After this win, the answer is a resounding "yes."
Bradley’s performance at the 2025 Travelers Championship catapulted him to No. 9 in the Ryder Cup standings. He also jumped to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking. During the trophy ceremony, he was asked if he should be playing at Bethpage. He just looked at the camera and yelled, "Go USA!"
Honestly, the guy is playing some of the best golf of his life at 39. He now has more wins in the last calendar year than any American not named Scottie Scheffler. It’s a fascinating dynamic. Does he pick himself? If he stays in the top 10, he might not have to.
Why TPC River Highlands Still Matters
A lot of people think TPC River Highlands is "too easy" for the modern pro. It’s a par-70 course that barely touches 6,800 yards. In an era of 350-yard drives, it looks like a pitch-and-putt on paper.
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But look at the 2025 results. The winning score was 15-under. That’s significantly higher than the 23-under Keegan shot to win in 2023 or the 22-under Scheffler posted in 2024. The greens were firmer. The pin placements on Sunday were tucked. It proved that you don't need 8,000 yards to challenge the best in the world; you just need a layout that forces them to think.
The atmosphere in Cromwell is different, too. It’s the only PGA Tour stop in the Northeast. These fans are loud. They’re knowledgeable. And they treat Keegan Bradley like he’s a member of the 2004 Red Sox.
Actionable Insights for Golf Fans
If you're following the rest of the 2025-2026 season, this win changes everything. Here is what you should be watching for next:
Keep an eye on the FedExCup standings. With 700 points from this win, Bradley is now a lock for the Tour Championship in East Lake. He’s a genuine threat to win the whole thing.
Watch Tommy Fleetwood's bounce-back. He's now 0-for-84 in regular PGA Tour starts. That’s a heavy burden. How he handles the next few weeks—specifically the Open Championship—will define his season.
Keep track of the "Captain's Points." The conversation about Bradley playing in the Ryder Cup isn't going away. If he finishes in the top 10 of the standings, he earns an automatic spot.
If you're planning to attend the 2026 Travelers Championship, book your tickets early. After two Keegan wins in three years, the New England crowd is only going to get bigger. Make sure to stake out a spot on the "Umbrella" 15th hole—it’s where the tournament is usually won or lost.