Eric Cole fired a bogey-free 7-under 63 at TPC River Highlands on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler and five others after the opening round of the Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour regular season’s last signature event.

Cole’s return to Cromwell, Connecticut carried extra weight. A year ago, a stomach bug triggered an adrenal crisis linked to Addison’s disease, a condition in which the body does not produce enough hormones to manage stress and blood pressure. He spent the night in hospital and withdrew before the final round.

“I’m not sure if it’s redemption, but I’m happy to be here and feeling good,” Cole said.

Eagle on 13 Set the Tone

The key moment came on the par-5 13th, where Cole pitched in from 65 yards for eagle on a hole he identified as the start of the scoring stretch. “From 13 in is really where you can kind of score,” he said. His only regret was a missed 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have pushed his lead to two.

Cole led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (4.547) and ranked second in Approach the Green (2.876), underscoring a round driven by ball-striking. The 63 matched his best score of the season, set during round three of the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he lost in a playoff to Russell Henley.

He is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory in 123 starts, with this marking the fourth time he has held at least a share of the first-round lead. He is 0-for-3 in converting those positions.

Scheffler and a Packed Chasing Group

Scheffler, the world No. 1 and 2024 Travelers champion, posted a bogey-free 64 to sit one back alongside England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, American Ben Griffin and Bud Cauley, Colombian Nico Echavarria,  and Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan.

This was the American’s 83rd bogey-free round, the most of any player on the PGA Tour since 2019.

He birdied the reachable par-4 15th but narrowly missed medium-length birdie chances on each of the final three holes.

It was Scheffler’s lowest opening round since a 63 at The American Express in January, which he went on to win. He has not won since.

“When the scoring is lower it can be harder and harder to play catch up,” Scheffler said. “Sometimes here you get so far behind you can only shoot so low on some of these golf courses, so it’s important to keep pace.”

Clark Opens With 68 After US Open Win

Wyndham Clark, fresh off his wire-to-wire US Open victory at Shinnecock Hills, opened with a 68 despite a triple bogey at the 12th, where his tee shot went out of play.

“I had one bad swing, made a triple,” Clark said. “Other than that we would be at 5-under and in a great spot.”

Clark said he was surprised by his energy levels and enjoyed the warmer reception from Connecticut galleries. “They were finally rooting for me instead of against me,” he said.

Fellow American Patrick Cantlay shot a 65, his lowest opening round since the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Steady rain earlier in the week softened the par-70 layout at 6,844 yards, and the field took full advantage. Only 11 of the 72 players failed to break par, producing the lowest first-round scoring average of the season at 67.961.

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