CROMWELL (Conn) — Wyndham-Clark won the U.S. Open last week with a score 10 under. This week, at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn, four players had reached this mark by 11:45 am on Friday. The majority of players are showing no signs of slowing their pace.
TPC River Highlands is a short course by Tour standards, measuring 6,852 yards. 603 birdies were recorded in the first round. This was the only time in this season that a PGA Tour course has produced over 600 birdies during a single round. However, it is the 5th time since 2008 when it happened.
Rory McIlroy shot a 68 on Friday, six shots better than his opening round 62 last year. McIlroy, who started his day on Friday’s back-nine and played the first nine holes, immediately climbed the leaderboard with birdies at 11, 14, 15, 17, 18 to reach the turn in just 30. Fans buzzed as the crowd grew around McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, thinking they might see a 59. After birdying the second and third hole, he reached 7 under after six holes.
Travelers Photos
McIlroy, too, had his hopes dashed by hitting into a pond on the 177-yard 8th hole. But a second round 64 has put him in the mix with players such as Denny McCarthy (64-65) Eric Cole (65-65) Zach Blair (65-65) and Adam Scott (62-68) who continue to make birdies.
“Everything went a little better today.” McIlroy stated that he played better, had more chances, and corrected most of his mistakes from yesterday.
McIlroy’s biggest improvement was on the greens. The 19-footer he made on 11, his second hole, was birdie. On the 14th hole, he made a 13-footer. Birdie putts of 14 feet on holes 17 and 2 were a success. McIlroy made a birdie of 25 feet on the third and ended the day with 124 feet.
McIlroy stated, “I believe the greens here are much better in the morning.” They haven’t seeded yet, and the greens aren’t as bumpy. There were many 20-footers yesterday afternoon, which you wanted to get to the hole as quickly as possible to avoid having the 3- and 4-footers to deal with on the way back. You can be more aggressive in the morning with your putts, and it paid off this morning as I nailed quite a few.”
Rory is playing his fourth consecutive tournament, but he did not arrive in Connecticut until the afternoon of Wednesday. McIlroy was in need of rest after a long U.S. Open. McIlroy tested new TaylorMade irons and worked briefly with Brad Faxon on the practice green. He also signed autographs for children.
He said, “I think that two days at home between LA and here were nice because I didn’t have to do much,” he said on Friday. “Actually, this is my fourth week of feeling okay. This was a pleasant surprise.”
McIlroy trailed McCarthy by seven shots after the morning’s wave. If he wants to win the tournament for the first, he will need more rounds below 60. He, like everyone else, is aware that they will be there.
