CROMWELL, Connecticut (AFP) - Hunter Mahan will try to build on a solid US Open showing when he defends his title at the PGA Tour's six million-dollar Travelers Championship that starts here on Thursday.

Mahan remained competitive at the US Open at Torrey Pines last week until a four-over-par 75 in the final round dropped him to a tie for 18th.

Now the 26-year-old he returns to the TPC River Highlands, scene of his only career victory.

Last year Mahan defeated Jay Williamson with a birdie at the first playoff hole to win his first PGA Tour title.

"I was playing really well, and I was building momentum towards it," Mahan said of last year's victory. "I feel like I'm doing that again. River Highlands is a great course for me, and it's nice to be going back there to defend. Obviously, it's my first time as defending champion, and I really want to do well."

Mahan hopes to take advantage of a limited field as many of the world's top players opted to skip this week's tournament, which takes place on the opposite side of the country from Torrey Pines in San Diego, California.

Tiger Woods, who defeated Rocco Mediate in a playoff for the US Open title on Monday, was never scheduled to play the Travelers, although he is sure to be a hot topic this week after announcing he will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Mediate, who saw Woods birdie the 18th hole on Sunday to force the playoff at Torrey Pines, then do the same at the 18th hole of the decider to force sudden death, had been scheduled to play but decided he needed a break.

"When the playoff went to Monday, obviously you think it's a very short week because (Mediate's) playing in the pro-am Wednesday," tournament director Nathan Grube told the Hartford Courant on Tuesday. "Did I think he was going to withdraw? No. Am I shocked that he did it? No. I can see both."

Fiji's Vijay Singh, a three-time major winner, will be in the field on Thursday after finishing tied for 65th at the Open.

He will be joined by world No. 12 Stewart Cink, who was tied for 14th in the second major of the year.

Brad Faxon, the 2005 Travelers champion, will make his season debut on Thursday.

An eight-time winner on Tour, the 46-year-old is coming off foot and knee surgeries over the last 10 months and used his one-time exemption this year for being in the top 25 of career earnings.