Here’s what you need to know from the first-round action in Cromwell, Conn.
The leaders
Betting favorite Rory McIlroy shares the lead with J.T. Poston at eight under par after Day 1. That’s a round of 62, folks!
McIlroy contunued his recent hot streak with a bogey-free round at TPC River Highlands, while Poston did the same. Poston’s round was highlighted by a back-nine 29. (!)
Despite the ultra-low scores, the two share only a one-shot advantage over their closest competitors.
The contenders
Speaking of closest competitors, the players who happen to be only one shot back are Xander Schauffele and Martin Laird. Three players are two shots back at six under overall (Charles Howell III, Webb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay), and two more are three shots back (Cam Davis and Matthew NeSmith). There are 18 others within five shots.
It seems that when the scoring is this low, no lead is safe. Cue the drama!
What about Scottie Scheffler?
The U.S. Open runner-up and PGA Tour record-breaker was the other betting favorite this week, along with McIlroy.
Scheffler made three bogeys and one birdie to sign for a round of two-under 68 — by no means out of the mix, and currently T28.
Check out the tee times for the second round here.
As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Issue, which debuted in February 2018. Her original interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.