Scheffler,Eckroat⁤ Share Travelers⁣ Championship Lead

‍ ‍ Updated june 20,2025

CROMWELL,Conn. – Scottie scheffler and Austin Eckroat both shot 8-under 62 on⁣ Thursday to share the ‍first-round lead at the Travelers Championship. The tournament at TPC River Highlands offers a respite after last week’s challenging U.S. Open.

Scheffler,the world’s top-ranked⁢ player,highlighted⁢ his ⁤round wiht a ⁣precise 3-iron shot on the par-5 13th,landing⁣ within 10 feet for birdie. He described the shot as ⁢”exactly what I was trying to do.”

Rory ⁤McIlroy ⁤enjoyed a bogey-free round, carding a 66. “This is a⁤ nice tonic compared to ‍last week,” McIlroy said, noting the course is “slightly more benign” than Oakmont.

Cameron ⁣Young, after a rocky start with a double bogey, recovered impressively with eight birdies to finish at 64. His father, ⁢Dave ⁣Young, filled‍ in as caddie due to his regular caddie’s illness.

Eckroat, despite a⁣ season of struggles, ⁤found ‍his form, notably on the last six holes where⁢ he went 5-under par, including a‍ 35-foot eagle putt on No. 13. “I wasn’t fearing the left ⁤ball ‍today, which is huge,” Eckroat said, adding that he felt confident over the putter.

J.J.⁢ Spaun, the U.S. Open champion, struggled with fatigue and heat, finishing with ⁢a 73 after a double bogey on No. 12.

Jordan Spieth withdrew after 13 holes, citing a shoulder ‍injury that tightened up⁤ during his warm-up.

“That⁢ 3-iron‍ I⁣ hit in there was really nice. It was pretty much exactly what I was trying to do,” said Scottie Scheffler, reflecting on⁤ his extraordinary approach shot.

What’s next

The second ⁢round of the Travelers championship continues Friday, with ⁤players vying for position ⁤heading into the weekend. ⁢All eyes will ⁤be on whether Scheffler ⁣and Eckroat can maintain their lead, and if McIlroy and Young can continue their strong play.