26 Jun 2020 | Professional golf |
Davis runs hot in Travelers
by Martin Blake
Cameron Davis’ improved form has been franked by a four-under par 67 to start the Travelers Championship in Connecticut today.
The 25-year-old Australian, who won his national Open in 2017, is the leading contender of his countrymen along with Marc Leishman, who also began with a four-under round of 67 at River Highlands.
Sydney’s Davis has already had two top-10 finishes this year and earned more than $US500,000 in his second year on tour. His highlight was a pitch-in eagle on the par-four second hole today.
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes dominated the field with his opening 60 to lead by three shots from a group that includes world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
Hughes had a long birdie putt at his last hole, the ninth on the course, for a 59 but left it short. He had to be content with two putts for a 60, his career-low round but not a course record since Jim Furyk shot 58 at River Highlands four years ago in his victory.
“I kind of joked walking off there that 59 wasn’t even the record because of Jim’s 58,” Hughes said. “It’s probably not even that special around here. But as a personal milestone it would have been neat.”
Further good news from an Australian perspective was that Jason Day, who has slid to No. 59 on the world rankings after a couple of missed cuts, played better today. Day shot an opening 67 on the par-70 River Highlands.
Across on the Korn Ferry Tour, Australian Ryan Ruffels shot a seven-under par 64 and is on the leaderboard in the Utah Championship.
It left the 22-year-old Victoria a shot from the lead.