Scottie Scheffler tied for Travelers lead after chasing a 59

After denying that TPC River Highlands is too easy, Scottie Scheffler was on pace for a round of 59 there Thursday in the opening round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn.

Instead, the World No. 1 carded an 8-under-par 62 and is tied for the lead with Austin Eckroat.

Scheffler was 9 under par through 15 holes at the par-70 course but settled for par at No. 16 and made his only bogey of the day at No. 17, a three-putt after he badly misjudged his first.

Earlier in the day, Eckroat put up a bogey-free 62 highlighted by an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch at Nos. 13-15.

At the $20 million signature event, the last of the regular season, Scheffler and Eckroat are two shots ahead of Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley (6-under 64). Bradley was the 2023 Travelers champion, while Scheffler won last year.

Cameron Young is alone in sixth at 5-under 65, and a large tie at 4-under 66 included Norway's Viktor Hovland, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Australia's Jason Day.

J.J. Spaun, playing alongside Scheffler after winning his first major title at the U.S. Open on Sunday, struggled to a 3-over 73. There is no 36-hole cut at the tournament.

Jordan Spieth played 12 holes before withdrawing due to a neck/upper back injury.

--Field Level Media