CROMWELL, Conn. — World number one Scottie Scheffler fired a blistering opening-round 62 to share the lead at the Travelers Championship on Thursday, while Rory McIlroy sits just two shots back after a strong start of his own at TPC River Highlands.
Scheffler, coming off his sixth victory of the season at last week's Memorial Tournament, continued his dominant form with an eight-under-par round that included eight birdies and no bogeys. The 27-year-old Texan shares the early lead with Tom Kim, who matched his 62 in the afternoon wave. "I felt like I had good control of my ball today," Scheffler said. "The course is in perfect shape, and when you're hitting it well, you can really take advantage."
McIlroy's Strong Start
Rory McIlroy, fresh off his dramatic U.S. Open victory at Pinehurst, opened with a six-under 64 to sit tied for third. The Northern Irishman carded seven birdies against just one bogey, showing no signs of a post-major letdown. "It's nice to keep the momentum going," McIlroy said. "I didn't want to come here and just go through the motions after last week."
McIlroy's round featured several highlights:
- A 25-foot birdie putt on the par-3 5th
- A near-ace on the par-3 8th that left him a tap-in birdie
- A clutch par save from the bunker on 17 after his only bogey of the day
Scheffler's Dominance Continues
Scheffler's round was a masterclass in ball-striking, as he hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation. The world number one has now shot 65 or better in seven of his last 10 rounds on tour. "When he's on like this, it feels like he's playing a different course than everyone else," said playing partner Justin Thomas, who opened with a 67.
Key Stats Through Round 1
- Scheffler: 8 birdies, 0 bogeys, 16/18 GIR
- McIlroy: 7 birdies, 1 bogey, 14/18 GIR
- Field average: 68.2 (lowest opening round average on tour this season)
Chasing Pack
Behind the co-leaders and McIlroy, a group of five players sit at five-under 65, including Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau. Defending champion Keegan Bradley opened with a solid 67. "The scores are going to be low this week," Bradley predicted. "The course is soft and the greens are perfect. You're going to have to go really low to win."
The Travelers Championship, one of the PGA Tour's designated events, features a stacked field with 18 of the world's top 20 players. The tournament is known for producing dramatic finishes, with six of the last nine editions decided by either a playoff or one stroke. Last year, Bradley won by three shots after shooting a final-round 62.
Weather Impact
Thursday's ideal scoring conditions could give way to more challenging weather on Friday, with thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon. The morning wave, which includes Scheffler, may have an advantage with calmer conditions expected early. "We'll see what the weather does," McIlroy said. "But either way, you have to keep making birdies out here."
The tournament marks the final designated event before next month's Open Championship at Royal Troon. Several players, including Scheffler and McIlroy, will take next week off before heading to Scotland for their final major championship preparation.
Looking Ahead
With 54 holes remaining, all eyes will be on whether Scheffler can continue his historic season or if McIlroy can ride his U.S. Open momentum to back-to-back victories. The pair are scheduled to play together in Friday's second round, teeing off at 12:50 PM ET. "It should be fun," Scheffler said about the pairing. "Rory's playing great golf right now, and so am I. Hopefully we can feed off each other."
The Travelers Championship continues through Sunday, with the winner earning $3.6 million from the $20 million purse. For Scheffler, it would be his seventh win of the season, while McIlroy could capture his fourth title of 2024 and 27th of his PGA Tour career.
