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Tournaments

Here’s what you missed from Round 1 of the Travelers Championship

Jessica MarksburyBy Jessica Marksbury
June 20, 2019

It’s common for the field strength to be less than optimal at a tournament that’s held the week after a major, but that’s certainly not the case at the Travelers Championship, which is packed with some serious star power. Brooks, Phil, Jordan, Jason, JT and Louis are all in attendance, not to mention newly-minted professionals Matthew Wolff and Viktor Hovland.

Here’s everything you missed from Thursday’s action at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn.

It's a SIX-WAY tie at the top

To decribe the leaderboard as tightly clustered would be an understatement. Sixty-four was the low round of the day at TPC River Highlands, and six players matched it: Ryan Armour, Bronson Burgoon, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Abraham Ancer, Mackenzie Hughes and Zach Sucher. Top top it off, there are six more players only only shot behind, including Keegan Bradley, Paul Casey and Chez Reavie.

Jason Kokrak three putts travelers
Tournaments
Pro starts Travelers Championship with four three-putts in a row
Some big names are in the mix

The list of high-profile players within three shots of the lead is extensive: Keegan Bradley (-5), Paul Casey (-5), Patrick Cantlay (-4), Tommy Fleetwood (-4), Louis Oosthuizen (-4), Phil Mickelson (-3) and Viktor Hovland (-3).

Of those names (all of whom are having excellent seasons), Patrick Cantlay’s star is currently shining brightest. He has a win (the Memorial) and eight total top-10 finishes thus far this season, including a solo-second at the Shriners and a T-3 at the PGA Championship.

Phil Mickelson is seeking his 45th career Tour victory this week.
Phil Mickelson is seeking his 45th career Tour victory this week.
USA Today Sports
Phil is off to a good start

Mercurial Phil Mickelson is off to a good start at the Travelers, posting an opening round of three-under-par 67 that included six birdies and three bogeys.

A win this week would mark the 45th of his career.

Phil Mickelson
Tournaments
Phil Mickelson gives grim prognostication on future U.S. Open chances
It was a tough start for Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth

Kopeka and Spieth will need to have a good bounce-back round on Friday if they hope to stick around for the weekend. Kopeka fired a one-over-par 71 (four bogeys, three birdies) while Jordan Spieth was three-over (two bogeys, a triple-bogey, and two birdies).

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