Novel task for Henry

US Tour:American JJ Henry is looking forward to a "walk in the park" for his title defence at this week's Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.

After enduring four bruising rounds at the US Open on one of golf's toughest layouts, the Connecticut native is eager to return to the site of his maiden PGA Tour victory.

"As difficult as conditions were at the US Open, it will be almost relaxing defending my title," Henry said after tying for 26th at Oakmont, 11 shots behind surprise winner Angel Cabrera. "This week is going to feel like a walk in the park."

Henry, born in nearby Fairfield but now a Fort Worth resident in Texas, was roared on by his hometown crowd while cruising to a three-stroke victory at the TPC at River Highlands last year.

"It was just a great experience," the 32-year-old Ryder Cup player recalled. "When I finally knocked in that three-foot putt for par, raised my arms and gave my caddie a big hug, it was just an amazing feeling.

"This is a tournament I used to come to. My family is still there and I have a lot of roots here in the state. I remember sitting out there as a little kid watching guys hit balls, and there I was walking up the 18th hole as the 2006 champ. It's pretty neat stuff."

Despite being played the week after the second major of the year, the Travelers Championship has attracted a reasonably strong entry, including five of the world's top 20.

Sixth-ranked Fijian Vijay Singh leads the field followed by 10th-ranked Padraig Harrington, Masters champion Zach Johnson (13th), Britain's Justin Rose (18th) and David Toms (20th).

World number two Phil Mickelson, winner in 2001 and 2002, was also scheduled to play but withdrew on Monday because of a lingering injury to his left wrist.

Harrington - who missed the cut at Oakmont - is joined in the 156-man field by Darren Clarke

Harrington should have some degree of expectation heading to this week's event. On the last occasion that he missed the cut at an US Open - at Pinehurst in 2005 - he went on to win the following week's event on tour, in that case the Barclays Classic in Westchester.

It remains to be seen if the blows inflicted by Oakmont will have any lingering effect on Harrington, who takes a week-off after this tournament before taking in the European Open at The K Club, the Irish PGA at the European Club and the British Open at Carnoustie.