Legendary Lefty Leads At Halfway Point of Travelers Championship

CROMWELL, CT — Halfway through an historic Travelers Championship, an ageless Hall of Famer is looking to make even more history at Connecticut's annual PGA Tour stop.

Phil Mickelson, the only back-to-back tournament champion with his victories in 2001 and 2002, followed an opening round 64 with an even more impressive 63 Friday, putting him 13-under par and a stroke ahead of first-round leader Mackenzie Hughes and 23-year-old Will Gordon, who got into the tournament on a sponsor's exemption.

Just 10 days after turning 50, Mickelson started slowly, bogeying the short par-4 2nd hole, but recovered to hole a sand shot for birdie on 5. He birdied 7 and 9, going out in 33, then posted birdies on 10, 13, 14, 15 and 18, barely missing an eagle on the final hole when his approach shot stopped two and a half feet from the cup.

On this day, he overshadowed his much younger playing partners, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy, the top-ranked player in the Official World Golf Rankings.

"I made some strides in the sense that I didn't try to go toe-to-toe with two of the longest guys in the game, Bryson and Rory," Mickelson said following his round. "I ended up hitting some 3-woods on some of those holes because it fit my game better, and fortunately I made a couple of birdies. I'm thinking about No. 7 as an example, where they hit driver and I hit 3-wood and was still able to make birdie. Playing my game and the way the course set up for me was a challenge when you're playing with guys that hit it like that, but it allowed me to play some good golf."

Mickelson is attempting to become the oldest champion in the 69-year history of the tournament, and just the eighth player to win a PGA Tour event after turning 50.

With spectators not permitted at the TPC River Highlands this year due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, Mickelson said the quiet atmosphere seemed odd, but it beat the alternative.

"I'm just appreciative that we're playing golf," he said. "I'm appreciative that Travelers has continued to support this tournament. I'm appreciative that we're able to bring some live sports to people back home, and hopefully give them a little bit of entertainment in some downtime. It's fun to be back competing, and I feel like the methods that we've done, whether it's no fans or whether it's face masks at times and sanitizing your hands and all these things. I feel like we're doing it a very safe way, and it's just fun to be back out playing. Even though it's quiet and it doesn't have the same atmosphere, it still is cool that we're able to do this."

McIlroy (63-68) is in a pack of players at 9-under, while DeChambeau (65-67) is among those at 8-under. Defending champion Chez Reavie followed his opening 70 with a 66, just making the cut at 4-under.

Among the notables missing the cut were 3-time champion Bubba Watson (-3), 2019 U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland (-2), 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett (-1), 2013 U.S. Open titlist Justin Rose (even) and 2017 PGA Championship winner and third-ranked Justin Thomas (+2).

The complete scoreboard may be found here.

(PGA Tour)

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