The PGA Tour started their third tournament since coming back from a COVID shutdown, the first round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes found himself alone at the top of the leaderboard after he fired a -10 60 on day one. Hughes was three shots clear of the field, which includes a talented trio lurking in second. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Viktor Hovland all were -7 after their first-round performances.
Phil Mickelson also had a productive first day, finding himself in a tie for fifth at -6 with Louis Oosthuizen and Sergio Garcia. Other notables include Bryson DeChambeau, who has become the talk of the PGA Tour when they returned at Colonial a few weeks back. DeChambeau opened with a 65 on the par 70 course.
This is the first tournament that saw players withdraw prior to the start due to coronavirus concerns. Brooks Koepka, his brother Chase and Graeme McDowell all withdrew after Koepka and McDowell’s caddies tested positive. Champions of the first two events back, Daniel Berger and Webb Simpson also pulled out just as a precaution. Prior to the flurry of Wednesday withdrawals, Cameron Champ had to back out after joining Nick Watney as the two tour pros to have tested positive for the virus post-restart.
For the lesser-known Koepka, Chase, who qualified in the last week for this year’s edition of the Travelers, was extended a standing invitation for the 2021 edition of the tournament, in the chance, he is not already exempt by 2021.
Former K-State Wildcat Robert Streb is tied for 79th after a -1 first round 69.
Round 2 coverage starts at 2:00 on Golf Channel, with streaming coverage throughout the day on PGA Tour LIVE.
