PGA Tour
Round 1 Review: Cole Lights Up River Highlands
Eric Cole has stormed to the top of the Travelers Championship leaderboard after a scorching first round at TPC River Highlands. Cole’s opening 63 gives him a one-shot lead at 7-under, with Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Bud Cauley, Ben Griffin, Kristoffer Reitan and Nico Echavarria all bunched at 6-under after posting 64s. Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Aaron Rai, Justin Rose, Corey Conners and Brandt Snedeker occupy the chasing pack at 5-under.
Our Pre-Tournament Pick
Xander Schauffele opened with a 67 to sit at 3-under, landing him firmly in mid-pack territory after 18 holes. Our pre-event pick is still very much in the tournament and within six shots of the lead, but he’s got work to do if he’s to overhaul Cole and the hot starters ahead of him. Schauffele’s opening round was solid rather than spectacular, and he’ll need to build momentum fast in round two.
Who’s in Contention
Cole’s eight-under total puts him in a commanding position, though the deficit to second place is just one stroke, which means the field remains tight. Scheffler sits at the head of the chasing pack at 6-under, and with current market odds of 2.1/1, the world number one remains a formidable favourite despite trailing by one. Fitzpatrick at 6-under is the real value proposition here at 8.5/1: he’s just one shot back and has won majors from tighter spots than this.
The cluster of players at 6-under (Cauley, Griffin, Reitan and Echavarria) all have winning chances, though the market has priced Cauley and Griffin at 18/1 while Reitan sits at 22/1. Echavarria, despite his position, is significantly unfancied at 55/1, which may represent an overlay for a player just one shot off the pace.
Round 2 Betting Angles
TPC River Highlands is a brutish par-70 that punishes wayward golf, and the opening round suggests birdie opportunities are there for the taking if your iron play is sharp. Cole’s 63 signals that low rounds are entirely achievable, but consistency will separate the contenders from the pretenders over the next three days.
Watch for Scheffler to push hard in round two. He’s positioned perfectly and the market still backs him heavily despite trailing by one. Fitzpatrick’s closing price of 8.5/1 is worth monitoring, particularly if he can post another low round and apply pressure to Cole’s lead. Conversely, monitor the over-50 shots contingent: maintaining position at 5-under will be the challenge for the chasing pack, and any player slipping to even par could find themselves in trouble come the cut.
Schauffele needs to capitalize on a favourable draw and produce a scoring round to bridge the gap to the leaders. He’s too good a player to dismiss from six shots back, but the window for a tilt at victory closes quickly if others continue to post low rounds.
Our Updated Pick
Odds: 2.1/1 – bet365
Scheffler remains our pick from this position. One shot behind Cole and still the market favourite, he has the shot-making to attack TPC River Highlands. The field is bunched tight enough that one good round moves him into the lead, and his consistency across 72 holes nearly always tells in PGA Tour events.
Top 5 After Round 1
| Pos | Player | R1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Cole | 63 | -7 |
| 2 | Scottie Scheffler | 64 | -6 |
| 3 | Matt Fitzpatrick | 64 | -6 |
| 4 | Bud Cauley | 64 | -6 |
| 5 | Ben Griffin | 64 | -6 |
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