McIlroy battles cold with hot round of 62

Rory McIlroy is finding the Travelers Championship easy to navigate, calling the PGA Tour event a “US Open rehab” as he fired an eight-under 62 to grab a share of the lead after the first round on Thursday.

Continuing an impressive run of recent form that included victory at the Canadian Open and a top-five finish at last week’s US Open, the Northern Irishman reeled off eight birdies in a flawless bogey-free round in Cromwell, Connecticut.

“Anytime you start with a 62, you’re going to take it,” he said.

The four-time Major champion said the forgiving layout at River Highlands came as a welcome relief after the brutal challenge of the US Open, the Major which bills itself as the toughest test in golf.

“It’s like the anti-US Open here,” McIlroy said. “It’s like US Open rehab coming here. You’re like, ‘Oh, I can actually make some birdies. This is nice’.”