England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, Aaron Rai and Justin Rose, along with world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, posted strong starts at the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship. Wyndham Clark, fresh off his second US Open title, was held back by a triple bogey.
After a tee‑shot error on the par‑four 12th that dropped him into a bunker, Clark was unable to recover. He missed a seven‑foot putt and, following the mishap, registered birdies on the 11th and 13th holes. Despite adding a 15‑hole gain and a 17‑hole advantage, his round finished at two under 68, five strokes behind first‑round leader Eric Cole, who shot a flawless seven under 63 including an eagle at 13.
Clark commented afterward: “I had one bad swing and made a triple bogey. Other than that we would have been at five under and in a great spot. I’m really pleased with my round and felt awesome overall.”
Fitzpatrick, who has already claimed three victories in 2026, finished with a six‑under 64, recording seven birdies and a single bogey while missing just one drive from the fairway.
In the group one shot behind Cole—alongside Scheffler, Ben Griffin, Kristoffer Reitan, Bud Cauley and Nicolas Echavarria—Fitzpatrick noted, “I played really solid. I took advantage of the scoring holes there.”
Scheffler: Maintaining Pace is Crucial
Scheffler, who tied for fourth place at last week’s US Open, delivered a flawless 64 at TPC River Highlands, with four gains on the front nine and two on the back.
After his lowest opening round since a 63 in January, Scheffler said, “When the scoring is lower it can be harder to play catch up. Sometimes you can only shoot so low on certain courses, so it’s important to keep pace.”
Fitzpatrick’s compatriots Rai and Rose trailed Cole by two strokes, joining a field of five‑under performers that included Viktor Hovland, Patrick Cantlay, Corey Conners and Brandt Snedeker.
Rory McIlroy is currently absent from the contest, with his return scheduled for the Genesis Scottish Open from July 9 ahead of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Scheffler – tied for fourth place at the US Open last week, four shots behind Clark – posted a flawless 64 on Thursday at TPC River Highlands, recording four gains on the front nine and two on the back.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler went bogey‑free in Connecticut on Thursday
Also Read
- It’s look less and less likely that Brendan Sorsby will be suing the NFL
- Japan and Sweden Split Points, Advance to World Cup 2026 Last 32
- Elanga’s Last-Gasp equalizer Propels Sweden Into World Cup Last 16 as Draw with Japan Seals Historic Qualification
- Japan and Sweden Advance to Round of 32 Following Thrilling Group F Draw
