Team Golf XYZ
Cromwell, Conn, June 28: Two 61s, both bogey-free and with nine birdies each, both including a dozen ‘3’s. And both were career-low cards. The leader is now Brendon Todd at 18-under and he is trailed by former World No. 1 Dustin Johnson at 16-under at the end of 54 holes at the Travelers Championship.
It was another eventful day with Jason Day requesting and getting a Covid-19 test and on testing negative he was allowed to play all alone as the last man off from the tenth tee. With a storm likely, there were three to a group, and both first and 10thtees used. The rain started getting heavy just as the last putt dropped and they just about beat the storm. A forecast for more rain on Sunday will mean another early start.
The 34-year-old Todd, already a winner this season – make it twice with Barracuda and Mayakoba – could well have had a 60 but for a missed 10-footer on the 18th. Todd hit 12 of the 14 fairways and 16 of the 18 greens, but on a birdie-filled course, anyone within a four-five shot lead could make a run on Sunday.
Johnson, improving with each day is looking for his 21st win, while Todd, who between 2016-2019 made just 14 cuts in 55 starts, has three wins, two of them in Fall during this ongoing season.
With the event having become a birdie-fest as things have been since the Tour re-started at the Colonial, no lead is safe and Todd knows it. He said, “It’s hard to miss the leader boards obviously, so (Johnson’s) name was up there from a pretty early point. Again, I just use it as motivation to go out there and make some more birdies.”
Travelers Champion – Leaderboard
“Whenever I get a two- or three-week stretch in a row, I tend to be playing better by the end of it,” said Todd. “That’s just something I’m using to my advantage now after missing two cuts. I’m peaking in the third week and hopefully I can get it done tomorrow.”
Despite 9-under for the day, Johnson was not too happy missing several birdie chances and an eagle attempt on the par-4 ninth, when his ball stopped six inches from the pin. Only two of his birdie puts, an 18-footer at the 10th hole and a 21-footer on the 12th, were longer than 9 feet.
“I really felt like I controlled the distance with my irons really well and hit tons of good shots,” said Johnson.
First round leader Mackenzie Hughes (68) was lying one behind Kevin Streelman (63) at third. Bryson DeChambeau and Kevin Na each shot 65 and were tied for fifth at 197.
Phil Mickelson, who turned 50 on June 16, started the day with a one-shot lead but struggled, He ended with a one-over 71 and was Tieed-7th in a group six shots back. He made just his second bogey of the week on the third and then also dropped strokes on the seventh and 13th. Mickelson is looking for his 45th win and third on this course.
“I haven’t played great this year,” he said. “I’ve missed a lot of cuts, and the next thing I know my game is starting to come back and I can sense it. I played two great rounds, and this is really a lot of fun.”
Rory McIlroy (63) after 68-69 on first two days may be a bit too far to contend and among his mistakes of the day was a tee shot into water at TPC River Highland’s signature 15th hole and he also made bogey at 18. He is eight shots back.
Jason Day requested to be tested for COVID-19 on Saturday morning just before his round. Officials decided to have him play as a single on Saturday as a precautionary measure. He shot a 69 and is 1 under par headed into Sunday.
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