Eric Cole Shoots 63 to Hold One-Shot Travelers Championship Lead Over Scheffler

Eric Cole secured the Travelers Championship lead by posting a 7-under 63, highlighted by a 65-yard eagle pitch-in on the 13th hole.

Eric Cole carded a 7-under 63 on Thursday at TPC River Highlands to secure the Travelers Championship lead by one stroke. His opening round was highlighted by a 65-yard pitch-in for eagle on the par-5 13th hole. Cole holds a narrow advantage over world number one Scottie Scheffler and five other players—Matt Fitzpatrick, Ben Griffin, Nico Echavarria, Bud Cauley, and Kristoffer Reitan—who all finished the first day with rounds of 64. Cole’s performance marks a significant turnaround from the previous year in Cromwell, where he was forced to withdraw during the final round while trailing by 10 shots due to a severe stomach illness linked to Addison's Disease.

Scottie Scheffler, seeking his first victory since winning The American Express in January, produced a bogey-free 64. This score represents his lowest opening round since that January victory in the California desert. Scheffler reached 6-under par after a tee shot just short of the green on the reachable par-4 15th set up a birdie. Despite having medium-length birdie opportunities on the final three holes, he settled for pars to remain one shot back. Only 11 players in the 72-man signature event field failed to break par on a course softened by steady rain earlier in the week.

Cole’s Eagle and Health Recovery

Eric Cole’s 63 could have been even lower had he not missed an 8-foot birdie attempt on the 18th hole. His successful eagle on the 13th was the catalyst for his surge, as he noted that scoring opportunities increase from that hole inward. The 35-year-old’s presence at the top of the leaderboard follows a health scare during last year's tournament that required a night in the hospital. Because his body does not produce sufficient hormones to manage stress and blood pressure, the Addison's Disease diagnosis makes his current physical stability a primary focus.

Clark Battles Triple Bogey and Allergies

Wyndham Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champion who won last week at Shinnecock Hills, finished his round at 2-under 68. Clark’s scorecard was marred by a triple bogey on the 12th hole after he sent his tee shot out of play. Despite this setback and a puffy left eye caused by an allergic reaction that blurred his vision, Clark remained optimistic about his energy levels. He noted that without the single poor swing on the 12th, he would have finished at 5-under par. The Connecticut gallery supported Clark throughout the day, a contrast to the atmosphere he experienced during his wire-to-wire victory the previous weekend.

Cantlay Finds Form at TPC River Highlands

Patrick Cantlay opened with a 5-under 65, marking his best start to a tournament since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. After missing the cut at the U.S. Open, Cantlay’s bogey-free effort places him two shots off the lead. He described the performance as a step in the right direction as the PGA Tour enters a significant stretch of the regular season. The greens at TPC River Highlands acted as target practice for much of the morning due to the moisture, though surfaces became slightly firmer as the afternoon progressed.

Scoring Conditions and Field Statistics

The soft conditions at TPC River Highlands allowed for aggressive play, with a large portion of the field taking advantage of the holding greens. Scheffler emphasized the difficulty of playing catch-up on this specific layout when scoring is low, noting the importance of keeping pace with leaders like Cole. The 7-under-par benchmark set by Cole remains the target for a chasing pack that includes major winners and recent tour victors. With only a small fraction of the 72 players over par, the tournament remains highly competitive heading into the second round.