CROMWELL, Conn. — Scottie Scheffler enjoyed an exceptional round, hitting a shot so perfectly that it boosted his confidence. Overall, he delivered a remarkable performance, recording an 8-under 62 to tie for the lead with Austin Eckroat at the Travelers Championship on Thursday.
Following a challenging U.S. Open, many players welcomed the TPC River Highlands, despite the rough being long—though not as thick as the wet conditions at Oakmont.
Rory McIlroy played flawlessly, finishing bogey-free with a score of 66, showing no signs of stress. “This course is a refreshing change from last week, with less severe penalties for errors,” McIlroy remarked.
Scheffler tackled a challenging afternoon with a strong wind, quickly making an impact with four birdies in six holes and a front nine score of 30. A standout moment came at the par-5 13th when he hit a 236-yard shot into the wind, landing just 10 feet from the pin for a birdie.
“That 3-iron was a great shot,” Scheffler said. “I executed just as I intended, which felt fantastic.” McIlroy, along with Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark, stood at 64. Cameron Young, another competitor, faced difficulties early on but recovered with eight birdies in a new routine, relying on his father, Dave Young, to carry his bag after his caddie fell ill.
The surprise of the day was Eckroat, a two-time PGA Tour winner who has struggled this year. However, he managed to play the last six holes at 5-under, starting with a 35-foot eagle on No. 13, contributing to a solid round of golf.
In contrast, U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun battled fatigue and heat, finishing with a score of 73. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth withdrew after just 12 holes due to a neck injury, marking the first mid-tournament withdrawal of his career. Scheffler noted that his remarkable shot was a rare occurrence, recalling only a couple of similar moments in recent years.
