(CROMWELL—WTIC News) TPC River Highlands and the world’s top golfer, Scottie Scheffler, came as advertised on Thursday, as the course produced its trademark low scores despite breezy, hot conditions, including an 8-under 62 for Scheffler.
With a mid-afternoon tee time for the First Round of the Travelers Championship, Scheffler delivered early, posting birdies on 4 of the first 6 holes. An eagle on the par-5 13th hole tied him for the lead at -8 with five to go, setting him up for a possible run at Jim Furyk’s course-record 58 (2016).
Scheffler, the defending tournament champion, added a birdie on the 15th to go to -9, but parred the 16th to put Furyk’s -12 likely out of touch. He then bogeyed the 17th before a long birdie putt on 18 came up just short.
But Scheffler’s 62 tied him for the lead with Austin Eckroat at 8-under.
“I got hot pretty early in the round and I got off to a nice start,” said Scheffler. “Then, I really kept the momentum through basically hole 15, then I had one mess-up there on 17. But, overall, it was a pretty good day.”
3 players are tied 2 shots back: Rory McIlroy, Windham Clark and Keegan Bradley. McIlroy, coming off a disappointing U.S. Open, connected on a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
Jordan Spieth withdrew from the tournament with a sore shoulder blade.