Spieth Shoots 63, Leads Travelers Championship

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In his first-ever tournament round at TPC River Highlands, Jordan Spieth fired a 7-under 63 and leads the Travelers Championship by one stroke.

The two-time major champion started his inaugural round red-hot with birdies on three of the first four holes, and five of the first eight, getting to 5-under through 8 holes.

 
A bogey to close the front-nine was the only blemish on the day for the young Texan, who cruised to a bogey-free final-nine, highlighted by a birdie on 18.

“Being 3 under through four it helps you walk a little easier, it helps kind of the shots you are playing throughout the round,” said the 23-year-old Spieth. “You don’t feel like you have to take as many chances and I was able to play away from pins when I was in a little bit of trouble.”

One back, tied for second at 6-under 64, is Johnson Wagner and Connecticut native Brett Stegmaier, who grew up just 25 miles from the course.

Despite a nightmarish season (13 missed-cuts in 20 starts), the 33-year-old Stegmaier is happy to be home, and feels his game is coming together.

 
“It feels great. It’s been a rough year obviously,” said Stegmaier. “Just nice to take another step in the right direction. It’s been coming together the last couple months even though the results haven’t really shown it. To shoot a really low round is a big confidence boost.

Graham DeLaet and Troy Merritt are tied for fourth at 5-under, and round out the top 5.

Rory McIlroy posted a 3-under 67 in his debut at TPC River Highlands. Afterwards, McIlroy, frustrated with his 30-putt performance, said he’s giving his new Taylormade putter one more week to turn things around.

 
“I made a decision this week I would give it one more week and see how it performed,” said McIlroy. “It’s nothing to do with the putter. It’s mostly what I’m doing with it.”

Jim Furyk, who shot a 58 in his last round at the Travelers, was nine shots off that record-setting score, posting a 3-under 67.

World No. 4 Jason Day, who missed the cut at Erin Hills, continued his struggles in Connecticut, posting a 2-over 72. Defending champion Russell Knox shot 1-under 69.


Top 10

1 Jordan Spieth -7
T2 Johnson Wagner -6
T2Brett Stegmaier -6
T4 Graham DeLaet -5
T4 Troy Merritt -5
T6 Xander Schauffele -4
T6 Fabian Gomez -4
T6 Hudson Swafford -4
T6 Padraig Harrington -4
T6 Brian Harman -4
T6 Boo Weekley -4
T6 Tom Hoge -4
T6 Matt Every -4
T6 Scott Piercy -4
T6 Mark Hubbard -4
T6 Kevin Na -4
T6 Daniel Summerhays -4
T6 Beau Hossler -4


Video Highlights


Quotable

“I got off to a beautiful start on 1 and 2, knocking a putt in and hitting it really tight there. Felt good. Felt like a golf course we could take advantage of. Just tried to keep the ball in the fairway, and from there, you have short enough clubs into the green to where your misses can still be putts.”
Jordan Spieth, Round One Leader


Leaderboard

Travelers Championship . First Round . TPC River Highlands

POSPLAYERTO PARTOT
1Jordan Spieth-763
T2Johnson Wagner-664
T2Brett Stegmaier-664
T4Graham DeLaet-565
T4Troy Merritt-565
T6Xander Schauffele-466
T6Fabian Gomez-466
T6Hudson Swafford-466
T6Padraig Harrington-466
T6Brian Harman-466
T6Boo Weekley-466
T6Tom Hoge-466
T6Matt Every-466
T6Scott Piercy-466
T6Mark Hubbard-466
T6Kevin Na-466
T6Daniel Summerhays-466
T6Beau Hossler-466
T19Harris English-367
T19Keegan Bradley-367
T19Robert Streb-367
T19Rory McIlroy-367
T19Jim Furyk-367
T19Patrick Reed-367
T19Rod Pampling-367
T19Mackenzie Hughes-367
T19Michael Kim-367
T19David Hearn-367
T19Byeong Hun An-367
T19Sebastian Munoz-367
T19David Lingmerth-367
T19Wesley Bryan-367
T19Cameron Percy-367
T19Steve Wheatcroft-367
T19Morgan Hoffmann-367
T19Bryson DeChambeau-367
T37Smylie Kaufman-268
T37Paul Casey-268
T37J.J. Henry-268
T37Danny Lee-268
T37Hunter Mahan-268
T37John Peterson-268
T37Tag Ridings-268
T37Spencer Levin-268
T37William McGirt-268
T37Daniel Berger-268
T37Brendan Steele-268
T37Vaughn Taylor-268
T37Ryan Brehm-268
T37Chase Seiffert-268
T51Kevin Streelman-169
T51Robert Garrigus-169
T51Gonzalo Fdez-Castano-169
T51Chez Reavie-169
T51Grayson Murray-169
T51Greg Chalmers-169
T51Emiliano Grillo-169
T51Charley Hoffman-169
T51K.J. Choi-169
T51Billy Hurley III-169
T51Kyle Reifers-169
T51Tyrone van Aswegen-169
T51Rick Lamb-169
T51Bobby Wyatt-169
T51Jonathan Randolph-169
T51Scott Stallings-169
T51Will MacKenzie-169
T51Nick Watney-169
T51Russell Knox-169
T51Marc Leishman-169
T51Alex Cejka-169
T51Ken Duke-169
T51Ryan Palmer-169
T51Seung-yul Noh-169
T51Joel Dahmen-169
T76Andres GonzalesE70
T76Kyle StanleyE70
T76Webb SimpsonE70
T76Adam HadwinE70
T76Harold Varner, IIIE70
T76Chad CampbellE70
T76Bryce MolderE70
T76Dominic BozzelliE70
T76Sung-hoon KangE70
T76Ricky BarnesE70
T76Brandon HagyE70
T76Brad FritschE70
T76Kelly KraftE70
T76Patrick RodgersE70
T76Tony FinauE70
T76Retief GoosenE70
T76Brandt SnedekerE70
T76Bud CauleyE70
T76Whee KimE70
T76C.T. PanE70
T96Jason Kokrak171
T96Stuart Appleby171
T96Carl Pettersson171
T96Jhonattan Vegas171
T96Brian Stuard171
T96Nick Taylor171
T96John Huh171
T96Ryan Ruffels171
T96Derek Fathauer171
T96Jonas Blixt171
T96Chad Collins171
T96Brian Campbell171
T96Richy Werenski171
T96Julian Etulain171
T96Ryan Armour171
T111Lucas Glover272
T111Vijay Singh272
T111Jason Day272
T111Jim Herman272
T111Tim Wilkinson272
T111Ben Crane272
T111Miguel Angel Carballo272
T111Martin Laird272
T111Trey Mullinax272
T111Brian Gay272
T111Peter Malnati272
T111Jamie Lovemark272
T111Mark Anderson272
T111Seamus Power272
T125Jason Bohn373
T125Geoff Ogilvy373
T125Justin Thomas373
T125Patton Kizzire373
T125Kevin Tway373
T125Anirban Lahiri373
T125Zac Blair373
T125Martin Flores373
T125Luke Donald373
T125Troy Kelly373
T125Shawn Stefani373
T125Steven Alker373
T137Mark Wilson474
T137Bob Estes474
T137Cody Gribble474
T137Rory Sabbatini474
T137Zack Sucher474
T137Brett Coletta474
T143Nicholas Lindheim575
T143JT Poston575
T143Michael Thompson575
T143Bubba Watson575
T143Zach Johnson575
T143Brett Drewitt575
T149Zach Zaback676
T149Ryan Blaum676
T149Billy Downes676
152Charlie Beljan777
T153Wyndham Clark878
T153Neil Johnson878
155Bobby Gates1080
156Andrew Loupe1181

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