Denny McCarthy backed up his opening 60 with a 65 on Friday for a share of the lead heading into the weekend. He holds the 36-hole lead/co-lead for the first time on the PGA Tour.
“Golf tournaments aren’t 36 holes unfortunately, so I know there is still a lot of golf left. I’m playing some really nice golf, so I’m looking forward to having fun this weekend and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“All the shots I’ve hit the last few days have been really — I mean, I’ve just been having a really clear picture. Even hit some kind of off-speed pitches, if you will, taking 7-iron into the wind from 155, hitting a chippy cut, kind if like a Bubba Watson type shot.
“That’s when I’m at my best: When I am seeing those shots, pulling the club, and hitting it. So I’ve done that really well. Even today I was kind of in between clubs and either trap turned one or soft, cut one.
“So to me that’s fun when I’m in that mindset where I’m seeing shots like that. That’s really comforting. Playing with a lot of freedom and confidence for sure.”
The 15-under, 125 total is the lowest opening 36-hole score at the Travelers Championship since the event moved to TPC River Highlands in 1984 (it was previously 126, Justin Rose in 2010 and Xander Schauffele in 2022).
Keegan Bradley is the second player this season to open with two rounds of 63 or better (62-63).
“I’ve been putting really well all year, especially lately, especially on bent grass greens,” said Bradley.
“I was just reading them really good, and it was just — when you’re putting good everything feels easy and it’s automatic. It breaks a little this way, a little that way, and I just had that going today.
“I think I’m putting better than I ever have with the belly putter, which for a little bit I didn’t think that was possible. So it’s such a great feeling.”
It was a new career-low opening 36-hole score for both players. Only four players have posted lower opening 36-hole scores in PGA Tour history.
Chez Reavie also carded a 63 to move into third place at 13-under followed by Eric Cole (65) in fourth at 11-under.
Zac Blair’s 65 placed him in a share of fifth place at 10-under with the only non-American in the top-5, Australia’s Adam Scott (68).
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy moved into the top-10 (T10/8-under) with a 64 in spite of a double bogey at the 8th.
FedExCup leader Jon Rahm of Spain missed the cut for the first time on Tour since the 2021 Fortinet Championship. He withdrew after a first-round 71 at the 2023 PLAYERS Championship.
