Rory McIlroy on the heels of leader Mackenzie Hughes at Travelers Championship
Rory McIlroy put together one of his most consistent rounds of golf since the return of the PGA Tour to close out the opening day of the Travelers Championship tied for 2nd place.
Only a stellar showing from Mackenzie Hughes kept McIlroy from the top spot, with the Canadian posting a near-flawless 10-under 60 to take a three-shot lead into day two in Connecticut.
Hughes needed a birdie at the last to shoot 59, but the world number 158 left his putt short.
A 7-under 63 for @McIlroyRory in Round 1 @TravelersChamp.
Highlights from his first round: pic.twitter.com/3sHpx62l54
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 25, 2020
McIlroy struggled to make an impact in either of the previous two tournaments held since the tour’s resumption, failing to finish inside the top 30.
But the Northern Irishman looked every bit the world number one on Thursday, claiming an early eagle on the par-five 13th, his fourth hole, before hitting birdies at the 14th and 15th.
McIlroy also bounced back from a bogey on the par-three 16th with a further four birdies to end the day with a seven-under round of 63, putting him alongside American Xander Schauffele and Norway’s Viktor Hovland.
Three players shot 63 Thursday …
and they all trail by 3.
Get caught up on all the first-round action @TravelersChamp in The Takeaway. pic.twitter.com/ggxahqWD0U
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 26, 2020
Irishman Shane Lowry posted a commendable four-under 66 to head into day two tied for 17th.
Meanwhile England’s Justin Rose and Ian Poulter both had mixed outings, finishing tied for 33rd with scores of 67.
Latest
-
NewsJordan Spieth: ‘When you’re a yard off here, you’re about 40 feet away’
Augusta isn’t feeling very generous, Spieth said after a battling opening 71.
-
NewsTyrrell Hatton after impressive opening 71: ‘This is the major I expect to do worst in’
The Englishman made a great start at Augusta on Thursday but is keeping his expectations in check.
-
NewsOn this day in 2006: Phil Mickelson wins his second Masters title in three years
It was also a second successive major success for the Californian, then aged 35, following his US PGA Championship triumph the previous August.
-
NewsTommy Fleetwood hits impressive ace at Masters
It came a fortnight after he also made a hole-in-one during the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
-
NewsMasters day one: Justin Rose leads the way with superb 65
The Olympic gold medallist covered 10 holes in nine under at Augusta.
-
NewsJustin Rose overcomes ‘glass-like’ greens to claim early Masters lead
The Englishman finished the first round in the lead for the fourth time in his career.
-
NewsDefending champion Dustin Johnson finds going tougher with opening 74 at Masters
Defending champion Dustin Johnson carded three bogeys in his first 16 and then made a double bogey on the 18th as he returned a 74.
-
NewsRory McIlroy hits dad Gerry with wayward shot at Masters
The incident occurred when McIlroy pushed his approach to the seventh hole to the right of the green.
-
NewsSandy Lyle struggles on day one of record-breaking Masters appearance
Lyle eventually signed for a nine-over-par 81.
-
NewsLee Elder grateful to become honorary starter at Augusta ahead of Masters
Elder, now 86, was the first black player to compete in the Masters in 1975.