Mackenzie Hughes goes on birdie blitz to grab lead at Travelers Championship
- Mackenzie Hughes was in blistering form as he strung together a run of five straight birdies on his outward nine and picked up four more after the turn
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes fired an error-free 10-under 60 to take the first-round lead at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, on Thursday, putting himself three shots clear of three players including world number one Rory McIlroy.
Playing the back nine first at the TPC River Highlands, Hughes was in blistering form as he strung together a run of five straight birdies from the 14th on his outward nine and picked up four more after the turn.
He had a long look at a magical 59 but left a 41-foot birdie putt short at his last.
“I’ve shot 61 twice in competition, once at Sea Island and once at a mini-Tour event,” Hughes told reporters. “Both times there was an outside chance the last few holes to shoot 59.
“Kind of similar deal to today where I kind of needed to birdie the last few holes.”
Also a back-nine starter, McIlroy got off to a flying start by rolling in an 11-foot putt for an eagle on the par five 13th and then followed up with birdies at 14 and 15 to quickly get to four-under.