Australian golf star Adam Scott has produced a stunning birdie blitz to be tied for second after the opening round of the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Scott's eight-under-par 62 left Australia's former world No.1 two strokes behind American leader Denny McCarthy, who came tantalisingly close to posting a 59.
After missing the cut at last week's US Open, Scott's lowest round of the year left him suitably delighted.
"Yeah, really good stuff out there today. Plenty of good shots and I was rolling the putter great, so nice to take advantage of that," he said after draining 11 birdies in a single round for the first time in 16 years.
Scott reached nine under through 15 holes on Thursday, taking the outright lead before racking up a double-bogey six after dunking his approach into the water on the par-4 17th hole.
"The wind was just moving around a little bit the last few holes," he said.
"Felt like there was none really when I was hitting, but it came up well short so maybe got caught in something because the next shot the same club went 15 yards further.
"It's a shame, but it's hard to be disappointed with a 62."
Scott responded with his 11th birdie of the round to end the day sharing second with the USA's Keegan Bradley.
Fellow American and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler is outright fourth after opening with a 63.
McCarthy had nine birdies through 15 holes at TPC River Highlands, a par-70 course.
Finishing his round on the front nine, he had pars at seven and eight before he nearly holed out for eagle at the par-4 ninth to hit the magic 59.
His approach shot bounced off a small hill next to the green, redirecting his ball straight towards the pin, where it grazed the edge of the hole.
McCarthy sank a 5-foot putt for birdie to wrap up his 60, shooting 30 on both nines.
Scott was also flirting with a 59 before stumbling late.
The PGA Tour hasn't seen a sub-60 since Scheffler's second round at the 2020 Northern Trust Open.
McCarthy, 30, has yet to win a PGA Tour event but lost a playoff to Viktor Hovland of Norway at the Memorial Tournament earlier this month.
Cam Davis is the next best Australian in equal eighth after starting with a five-under 65.
Min Woo Lee, fresh off his tie for fifth at the US Open, is sharing 16th spot at four under, one shot ahead of Lucas Herbert, who opened with a 67.
Jason Day will do well to avoid a fourth straight missed cut following a disappointing one-over 71.
Day has been off the boil since breaking a five-year winless drought at last month's AT&T Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.
- with Reuters
