Winner’s Bag: Abraham Ancer, WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

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CROMWELL, Conn. — Rory McIlroy fought off a sinus bug to shoot an 8-under 62 on Thursday for a share of the first-round lead with J.T. Poston in the Travelers Championship. Coming off a fifth-place tie Sunday in the U.S. Open after winning the Canadian Open the previous week, the second-ranked McIlroy had a bogey-free morning round — highlighted by a 47-foot birdie putt on the par-4 seventh. McIlroy matched the lowest opening round of his PGA TOUR career. He finished with a tap-in birdie on the ninth hole after a 332-yard drive and 44-foot chip just past the pin. “It’s like U.S. Open rehab coming here,” the four-time major champion said. “I like coming here the week after the U.S. Open, it sort of gives you an opportunity to shoot low scores and get after it.” Poston had five straight birdies on Nos. 13-17 and made the turn at 6-under 29, giving rise to thoughts of Jim Furyk’s record 58 on the same TPC River Highlands course in 2016. Poston parred the first six holes on front nine and birdied Nos. 7 and 9 to cap a bogey-free round. “I gave myself a few looks, but kind of made a bunch of pars to start the front, so that was kind of out of the picture after a little while,” said Poston, the 2019 Wyndham Championship winner. “I might have thought about it a little more if I had made a couple of early birdies.” Xander Schauffele and Martin Laird were a stroke back. Schauffele hit all 18 greens in regulation for the first time in his career, despite showing up late at the practice range because he thought his 7:35 a.m. tee time was at 7:50. “That was a pretty big rookie move on my behalf,” the Olympic champion said. “But when I’m at home, I’ll show up for an 8 o’clock tee time at 7:55, maybe hit two putts and then start swinging. So, take advantage of the youth, I guess.” Patrick Cantlay, Charles Howell III and Webb Simpson, who played alongside McIlroy, were two shots back at 64. “We kind of fed off each other,” Simpson said about McIlroy. “The holes started looking bigger and bigger. A lot of putts were made.” Rain on Wednesday left the greens soft in the morning. They hardened later in the day and the wind picked up after lunch, leading to some higher scores. “I thought the conditions in the afternoon were a lot tougher,” Cantlay said. “It was blowing as soon as I got on the first tee. Watching a little bit of the coverage this morning, I knew it was much different this afternoon than the low scores those guys put up this morning.” Harris English, who won last year on the eighth hole of a playoff, opened with a 66. Top-ranked mastes champion Scottie Scheffler had a 68. Jordan Spieth, who holed a shot out of a greenside bunker on 18 to win here in 2018, had one of the tougher afternoons. He made a double bogey on 12, hitting his tee shot out-of-bounds near the Connecticut River. The three-time major winner sat cross-legged in the fairway as he attempted to regroup and then birdied two of his next three holes. But his tee shot at 16 found the water and he finished with a 75.

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CROMWELL, Conn. – We have arrived at that juncture of the Travelers Championship where everyone should be considered in contention, where the first page of the leaderboard – and we’re not joking here – should include every player. Why? Because the scenario defines logjam. With the lead through 36 holes held by Jason Day at 9-under 131, and the cut falling at 2-under 138, here’s the rub: The other 78 players who made the cut are all within seven of the lead on a golf course that is prime real estate for rallies. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Bubba Watson continues good form | Kevin Kisner back on track at Travelers You have your doubts? Travelers Championship historians could possibly offer convincing testimony. Since 2010, the 36-hole leader has won just twice at the Travelers – Jordan Spieth in 2017, Bubba Watson in 2015 – and the comebacks have consistently been of significant pedigree. • In 2010, Watson was seven behind Justin Rose, shot 67-66 on the weekend and won. • Three years later, Ken Duke was seven off the lead through 36, fired 65-66 in Rounds 3 and 4, and triumphed. • The most memorable of the rallies came in 2014 as Kevin Streelman, eight off the lead through two rounds, punctuated his 64-64 weekend with seven consecutive birdies to send fans into a frenzy. • Just last year, Dustin Johnson put together two quiet rounds, was six shots off the lead, then posted a 61-67 finish and won. Now, the initial reaction would be to suggest that TPC River Highlands with its par of 70 and 6,807 cozy yards is there for the taking by anyone wielding titanium, that there’s a birdie chance at every hole and should you have a good day with the driver, you’re going to be in position flag-hunt from start to finish. Justin Rose would cringe and wave the caution flag. True, those many rallies that have taken place since 2010 were highlighted by torrid weekends. The winner has averaged 131.45 over the final two rounds since 2010, or 8.55 under par. Johnson in 2020 and Streelman in ’14 both shot 128 on the weekend, Freddie Jacobsen fired 129 in 2011, and Watson in 2018 closed with 130. “Guys who’ve obviously got nothing to lose are tightening up their lines into the greens,” said Rose, offering his rationalization as to why so many winners have come from behind here. But the Englishman insists that it doesn’t mean TPC River Highlands is easy stuff. He knows from experience, too, because in 2010 he led by four through 36 (and was seven clear of the eventual winner, Watson), and shot 68-75 on the weekend. “The golf course is tricky enough, where when they start putting the pins near the edges of the greens, there are some tricky little swales and run-offs,” said Rose. “Maybe then, if you are playing with the lead, you start off being a little conservative with your approach play.” Add it all up, and Rose contends TPC River Highlands is the perfect arena. It’s easy to attack if you are in form, “because when you’re playing great, you can afford to make a silly mistake,” said Rose. But it doesn’t really lend itself to overly conservative play because next thing you know, “there are some gut-check moments out there” that become even more demanding if you’ve been playing defensively. Bottom line, “I think it’s a great test of golf,” said Rose, who signed for a sizzling 63 and at 7-under 133 is two off the lead. Position “A” you might suggest. Only those who are three and four and five and six, and even seven back, are feeling similarly.

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