Coming off a major championship, a let down is sometimes not only expected, but understandable. Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood are just two of the notable names at the top of the Travelers Championship leader board who disagree with that sentiment based off their play on Thursday.
Casey, who has won once this season and finished in the top four on three other occasions, opened with a five-under 65 at TPC River Highlands, one off the lead of six under shared by five players. Last year he opened with an identical score in this event and wound up finishing in second.
“You know, it fits my eye. Great championship,” said Casey. “The support by all the crowd we get out there, you know, this is just a joy to play this golf event.
“Travelers do such a great job. It’s a golf course I play well, and it’s not an easy golf course. The rounds of golf shot by guys like Jim Furyk [Furyk shot 58 in the final round in 2016] create a false illusion. It’s not that easy. It’s a very good golf course that rewards good play.”
Fleetwood’s good play was rewarded as well, as he fired a four-under 66 with just one bogey to sit two off the lead. Also at four under is Patrick Cantlay, who notched his second PGA Tour victory earlier this month at the Memorial Tournament.
“It doesn’t feel like a lot has changed, you know,” said Cantlay of whether his focus has shifted after win No. 2. “My mindset for a while has been come out, win the golf tournament every week, and I’ve been close. I’ve played really well.
“But it’s nice to get another one, and hopefully I can build on that momentum. My mindset for a while has been come out and win golf tournaments, and it’s still the same.”
Keegan Bradley, who is playing a home game of sorts this week, is among a group of five other players tied with Casey at five under.
:Yeah, it really feels when I come to this tournament that I’m coming home, which is fun,” Bradley said. “It feels like home. The grass reminds me of home. I really cherish this week every year.”
Up-to-the-minute leader board and other scoring information for the 2019 Travelers Championship, June 20-23, 2019, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT