Keegan Bradley, Denny McCarthy lead Travelers Championship as Rory McIlroy suffers late blip
- Michael Schmitt
- 24 June 2023
McIlroy was well-placed for a serious assault over the weekend before a wayward tee shot led to a double-bogey, although he's still in with a shout after signing for a second-round 64.
Keegan Bradley and Denny McCarthy emerged as co-leaders at the PGA Tour Travelers Championship on Friday, as Rory McIlroy remained in the mix despite a late double-bogey.
Bradley drained five consecutive birdies on the way to a seven-under-par 63, allowing him to join McCarthy at the top of the leaderboard.
McCarthy, who held a two-shot lead after an impressive first-round score of 10-under-par 60 on day one, followed it up with a solid five-under-par 65 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Bradley's remarkable surge came on the back nine, propelling him to a total score of 15-under-par 125 after 36 holes, a new joint course record. The action began with an incredible 58-foot birdie putt at the third hole, followed by a successful 10-footer at the eighth. Bradley's momentum continued as he sank a 34-foot birdie at the 12th.
"I felt like I could make every putt I looked at," Bradley said. "I was just reading them really well. When you're putting well, everything feels easy and automatic."
Despite a bogey on the second hole, where he missed the green, McCarthy stayed resilient by carding six birdies throughout the remainder of his round. Noteworthy were a 43-foot birdie putt at the 10th and another successful birdie from just inside 20 feet at the 18th.
"Golf tournaments aren't 36 holes unfortunately, so I know there is still a lot of golf left," he said.
McCarthy and Bradley, who both experienced afternoon showers during their round, held a two-stroke lead over Chez Reavie, who carded an impressive 63 for a total score of 127. Eric Cole followed two shots further back after a 65, while Zac Blair and Adam Scott were tied at 130 a shot behind.
World No 2 Jon Rahm, however, was unable to capitalize on the favorable conditions, firing a one-over 71, leaving him at two-under for the tournament, two shots outside the cutline set at four-under par.
Rory McIlroy found himself in a group at eight-under-par 132, seven off the pace, after a well-played 64 - although he will be regretting a double-bogey at his penultimate hole, the par-3 eighth, when a much better round seemed on the cards.
The eighth was the same hole he made his first ever PGA Tour hole-in-one on Thursday.
"It just got hit by a little bit of wind. Hit a pretty good shot. I just misjudged the wind a little bit and it came up short-the one place you couldn't miss today on that hole," he said.
While many players enjoyed the low scoring on offer, World No 1 Scottie Scheffler couldn't join the party. His even-par 70, featuring two birdies and two bogeys, left him with a total score of seven-under 133.
