Xander Schauffele tied for Friday's low round with his second consecutive 63 to storm ahead by five strokes at the midway point of the Travelers Championship, but it was a day to forget for Rory McIlroy.
Overnight co-leader McIlroy had a disastrous finish to his round, this after carding six birdies in his first 11 holes. Then came a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-four 12th, following a wayward tee-shot that saw him incur a penalty. Subsequent shots found the rough and a bunker.
On 15, the four-time major winner hit his third shot into the water, eventually holing out for a double-bogey. A birdie on the next offered a reprieve, with McIlroy signing for a 70, that leaves him at eight under, some six shots behind Schauffele.
That's the same mark as Seamus Power, who carded six birdies and just the one bogey, for a round of 65.
Schauffele has started the tournament as the only golfer without a bogey on back-to-back days, firing seven birdies in both the first and second rounds at TPC River Highlands. His 126 thus far marks a PGA career best through 36 holes, and his five-stroke lead is the largest at the event in nearly four decades.
Even with low scores abundant after two days, the leader at 14-under is the lone player in double digits below par. A group of five are knotted in second place at nine-under, including Kevin Kisner (64), Nick Hardy (64),Harris English (65), Patrick Cantlay (67) and Australian Cam Davis (66).
Pain.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 24, 2022
Rory McIlroy makes double bogey on 15 after chipping his third shot into the water. pic.twitter.com/vUqjc0Hgst
