Scottie Scheffler shines at Travelers Championship

Scottie Scheffler bounces back with a 65 at the Travelers Championship after a rough U.S. Open showing. He's back in form.

Scottie Scheffler started the Travelers Championship strong with a 65 on Thursday, bouncing back from a disappointing performance at the U.S. Open. After finishing T41 at the major tournament with consecutive over-par rounds, Scheffler showed his true form at a signature event. He recorded more birdies and an eagle in the first 14 holes of the Travelers Championship than he did in all four rounds at Pinehurst No. 2. With just one bogey, he finished the day at 5-under, placing him near the top of the leaderboard alongside Akshay Bhatia, Rickie Fowler, Kurt Kitayama, and Will Zalatoris, who shared the lead at 6-under.

Reflecting on his struggles at the U.S. Open, Scheffler admitted to feeling fatigued after the Memorial Tournament. Despite winning the Memorial, he felt it didn't align with his preferred preparation for majors. This led to a schedule change for the Memorial, moving it two weeks before the U.S. Open. Throughout the season, Scheffler has excelled in signature events, winning the Masters, Players Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, and Memorial. These victories have contributed significantly to his earnings this season, with over $13 million coming from signature events.

In the opening round at TPC River Highlands, Scheffler showcased his strong game by hitting 10 of 14 fairways and nearly all greens. He strung together three consecutive birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole, followed by another birdie. Scheffler also improved his putting performance, which was a struggle at the U.S. Open. He attributed his success on the greens to the familiarity of the surfaces, allowing him to read the breaks more effectively and sink putts with confidence. Overall, Scheffler's impressive start at the Travelers Championship signals a potential return to form after a brief setback at the U.S. Open.