A STRONG FIRST round at the Travelers Championship has helped Rory McIlroy get over his US Open blues, while Pádraig Harrington is also showing excellent form in Cromwell, Connecticut.
A disastrous six-over, first-round 78 at Erin Hills last week put paid to any hopes of a fifth Major title for the 28-year-old, and his subsequent 71 saw him miss the cut by four shots.
McIlroy looked rusty on his return from a recurring rib injury in Wisconsin last week but there were no signs of those creaks today as he carded a three-under 70.
Starting on the 10th, the Holywood golfer picked up birdies at the 12th and 17th holes before dropping a shot at the 18th and making the turn at one-under.
However, further birdies at the 1st and 3rd holes saw McIlroy eventually sign for a 67 at TPC River Highlands, three shots off early leaders Johnson Wagner and Brett Stegmaier.
Harrington didn’t qualify for the US Open and has had an injury-plagued season himself — neck surgery and a nasty cut to his elbow in a freak practice accident more recently — but he is one shot better off than McIlroy after impressing in stunning conditions.
The Dubliner also began his round on the 10th hole and made the turn in one-under after a birdie on the par-five 13th.
He picked up further shots on the 1st, 3rd and 6th holes to complete an excellent bogey-free effort and put himself firmly in the mix ahead of tomorrow’s second round.
Seamus Power is the only other Irish golfer in action at the Travelers Championship and at the time of writing was two-over after five holes.
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