Scottie Scheffler bumped in a par putt at 18 for a second-round 60 to stand atop the leaderboard at 16-under through 36 holes the Travelers Championship with more golf to be played behind him on Friday at Cromwell, Conn.
Scheffler missed a long birdie by mere inches to the right on the par-4 18th before tapping in for the 60, one better than Viktor Hovland (61 on Friday) and two better than Akshay Bhatia’s second-round 62.
“The conditions were really good this morning,” Scheffler said. “Softer golf course, not too much wind. … I’m sure if you looked at today’s round compared to yesterday’s round, I’m sure the ball-striking was pretty similar.”
After opening with a birdie Friday, Scheffler took a five for a bogey at the second. The missed six-footer on the par-4 was arguably his last mistake Friday before shifting into overdrive. He had 10 birdies on his final 16 holes in the second round with matching scores of 30 on the front and back nine. He was 10-under-par on Friday after an opening 64 on Thursday in his bid to win the event for the second time in three years.
Heavy rain led to soft greens and low scoring at TPC River Highlands on Friday, a common theme in the second round albeit nothing entirely novel at the event.
With a round of 60, Scheffler makes the tournament leaderboard and ties Patrick Cantlay (2011) and Tommy Bolt (1954) for the top second round. Jim Furyk (58 in 2016) holds the tournament single-round scoring record and Cam Young posted a 59 in the third round two years ago.
Hovland (-14 for the tournament) was 9-under on Friday with a 30 on the front nine and a highlight eagle on the par-5 13th.
Bhatia walked off the course earlier with the lead before Hovland and Scheffler closed out the round emphatically.
Bhatia and first-round leader Eric Cole are knotted at 12-under, four behind Scheffler. Cole had one birdie and eight pars on the back nine, wrapping up a second-round 65 after he shot 63 on Thursday.
