Denny McCarthy set a 36-hole course record at TPC River Highlands with a 15-under 125, and Keegan Bradley matched that number several hours later to tie McCarthy for the second-round lead at the Travelers Championship on Friday in Cromwell, Conn.
At a tournament known for low scores, McCarthy and Bradley own a two-shot lead over Chez Reavie (64-63) heading into the weekend. Only four players have posted a lower opening 36-hole score in PGA Tour history than McCarthy’s and Bradley’s 125s.
McCarthy followed Thursday afternoon’s red-hot round of 60 with a 5-under 65 on Friday morning. He recovered from a bogey on the par-4 second hole, his first and only bogey of the tournament, with six birdies, five on the back nine.
“There is a handful of holes and pins where you want to be somewhat conservative to, but a lot of green light opportunities out here, and I think most guys know that,” McCarthy said.
Then it was Bradley’s turn. After an opening 62, he used a run of five straight birdies on the back nine Friday for a 7-under 63 to get to 15 under for the week. Bradley’s successful birdie putts included a 58-footer at No. 3, a 34 1/2-footer at No. 12 and a left-to-right 15 1/2-footer at No. 15.
Bradley ranked No. 1 in the field in strokes gained approaching the green and second in strokes gained putting.
“I’ve been putting really well all year, especially lately, especially on bentgrass greens,” Bradley said. “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.”
The co-leaders enter the weekend with the same score but contrasting backgrounds. Bradley, a 37-year-old Vermont native, is a five-time PGA Tour winner who often plays his best golf in New England. McCarthy, 30, has come on strong in 2023 and lost a playoff earlier this month at the Memorial Tournament, but he’s yet to win on tour.
“It’s nice, but golf tournaments aren’t 36 holes unfortunately, so I know there is still a lot of golf left,” McCarthy said. “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.”
Reavie had a 3-foot eagle putt at his fourth hole of the day, the par-5 13th, to kickstart his round. He finished with six birdies and a single bogey.
Reavie has won three times on tour, including at the Travelers in 2019.
“I’m playing the best I’ve played probably in a couple years, to be honest,” Reavie said. “The last two months I kind of started straightening it out and, yeah, hitting more fairways and giving myself good scoring opportunities.”
Eric Cole shot a 65 Friday to move into fourth at 11 under. Australia’s Adam Scott — who, like McCarthy, was on 59 watch Thursday afternoon before he signed for a 62 — shot a 68 Friday and is tied for fifth at 10 under with Zac Blair (65 Friday).
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy was in line for a bogey-free 62 before putting his tee shot in the water at his penultimate hole and making a double bogey. His 6-under 64 was still enough to put him in a tie for 10th at 8 under, a group that also included Norway’s Viktor Hovland (65) and defending champion Xander Schauffele (64).
Jon Rahm of Spain followed an opening 67 with a 71 and missed the 4-under-par cut line by two shots. It was the World No. 2’s first missed cut since September 2021, ending a streak of 32 made cuts (not counting his withdrawal after one round of The Players Championship due to illness).
–Field Level Media
