Rory McIlroy continued his return to form with a blemish-free six-under 64 in the opening round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
McIlroy, who concluded his US Open with a closing 67 to sneak inside the top-20 at Oakmont, recorded six birdies with no dropped strokes at the somewhat more forgiving TPC River Highlands to lie tied-third, two shots adrift of leaders Aaron Eckroat and defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler was one of the late starters paired alongside newly-crowned US Open champion JJ Spaun – who unlike his playing partner endured a perhaps expected tough round to finish three-over following successive bogeys on the closing two holes.
There was, though, no such trouble for Scheffler, who never looked back after three birdies from the opening four holes.
The American – who landed a third major title with the PGA Championship crown at Quail Hollow during May – then picked up an eagle on the 13th and another birdie at 15, before a bogey at the 17th was the only blemish on his eight-under 62.
McIlroy is in touch though. The Masters champion drained an early six-footer for birdie at the second, adding further birdies before the turn at the par-5 sixth and the short eighth hole after hitting his tee-shot to 3ft.
On the back nine, more birdies followed at the par-5 13th and the short par-4 15th after almost driving the green and two-putting.
He reached six-under at the penultimate hole, sinking a 28ft birdie putt. He's joined in the clubhouse at six-under by playing partner and US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, and 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
"Overall it was a good start to the tournament, and I think when you’re in a two-ball like that and we can sort of feed off one another a little bit too, that’s nice as well," McIlroy said after his opening round.
"I just want to see some good golf and see some better shots. I think if you concentrate on that and you are concentrating on your quality of golf and concentrating on just trying to play to the best of your ability, the result will take care of itself.
"There’s no point in thinking about the result right now. I’m just trying to play as good as I can and make good swings, and if I do that enough, more than likely I’ll find myself in a position to have a chance to win."
Shane Lowry had a mixed day and sits in a tie for 60th on two-over par. The 2019 Open champion had an eventful card featuring five bogeys and three birdies.
Jordan Spieth was forced to withdraw after being in visible pain throughout his round. It is his first WD in 297 PGA Tour starts.
"I may have just slept wrong and then something came along. I don't know what caused it," he said of his neck/upper back issue.
"I think it was just a random one-off that unfortunately got worse and bad enough on a Thursday that I didn’t feel like I could continue."
Additional reporting: PA
