Travelers Championship Remains Proving Ground for Young Players CROMWELL, Conn. - Webb Simpson, the newly crowned United States Open champion, has not forgotten the tournaments that gave him his start. In 2008, shortly after he turned pro following the N.C.A.A."s golf championship, opportunity presented itself when he was given a sponsor's exemption from the Travelers Championship here. Simpson made his second professional start - one of five he made as a pro that year - and tied for 37th, earning $25,800. "That summer was really good for my maturity," he said. Had I not gotten the starts on the tour and played a few Nationwide, I don't think I would've gotten through Q-School my first try. Simpson said he never considered withdrawing from this week's Travelers Championship after his Open triumph. In fact, pencil him in for years to come. "I'm probably always going to come to Travelers," he said. It is that type of loyalty that inspires the Travelers Championship's tournament director, Nathan Grube, to continue to pursue the next generation of stars and develop a relationship that will last for years. Sponsors" exemptions have the potential to change a player's career. "It's like winning the lottery," said Casey Martin, the Oregon golf coach whose former player Daniel Miernicki is making his professional debut thanks to a sponsor's exemption. Grube said he used at least four of his eight sponsors" exemptions for fledging professionals and highly regarded amateurs. He has plenty of options. It is the time of year when collegians graduate (or forgo eligibility), turn pro and accept as many sponsor's exemptions as possible (a maximum of seven). Here at the tournament outside Hartford is where Stewart Cink, David Duval and Justin Leonard made his tour debut. Each later won a major title. Patrick Cantlay, the 2011 United States Amateur runner-up, hopes to be the latest to follow. Cantlay, who is 20 and the world's top-ranked amateur, announced June 19 that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility at U.C.L.A. He will make his debut here Thursday. Last year, Cantlay shot a 10-under-par 60 in the second round of the Travelers Championship, the lowest score recorded by an amateur in a PGA Tour event. Few doubt that Cantlay is ready to make the jump to the tour. He has competed in seven events - including three majors - and made the cut six times. "For me, it was a combination of being comfortable with being a professional and taking it to the next level and timing," Cantlay said about his decision to turn pro. I think this timing makes sense for me, being able to start somewhere where I'm comfortable and I have good memories. And I feel ready and comfortable with being a pro and trying to be as good as I can be. Cantlay is bidding to join Bud Cauley in one of golf's most exclusive clubs. Cauley, who played the Travelers Championship on a sponsor's exemption last year, became the eighth player to earn playing privileges out of college without going to the PGA Tour qualifying school. In eight tour starts, he earned $735,150 and finished the equivalent of 116th on the 2011 money list. Cantlay said he was scheduled to play on sponsors" exemptions in the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club next week and the Greenbrier Classic at the Old White T.P.C. in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., the week after that. Cantlay used one of his seven exemptions to compete in the Northern Trust Open in February as an amateur. If he earns at least $411,943, or the equivalent of No. 150 on the 2011 money list, Cantlay would earn special temporary status and could accept unlimited sponsors" invitations and make unlimited starts. Why the rush to turn pro? Just ask John Peterson, the 2011 N.C.A.A. individual champion, who tied for fourth at the United States Open last weekend. He remained an amateur in hopes of being selected for the 2011 Walker Cup team. He was overlooked, and when he flunked out of Q-School in the second stage he became a man without a tour. "I would turn pro as soon as possible," he said. I proved that last year. You have to strike when you're hot.