Jordan Spieth leads in first Travelers Championship appearance

Jordan Spieth has taken to TPC River Highlands kindly, leading in his first appearance at the Travelers Championship

If we’ve learned anything about Jordan Spieth, it’s that course knowledge (or a lack thereof) isn’t essential. He was Rookie of the Year in 2013 by carving up courses on his first go-around, including a win at the John Deere Classic.

At this point four years later, there aren’t many TOUR stops the workhorse Spieth hasn’t hit. Until this week, the Travelers was one of them.

He may be coming back more often.

A double bogey on his fourth hole of the day (the par-5 13th) couldn’t keep him from carding another under-par round, following a seven-under 63 Thursday and a 69 Friday.

ESPN’s Jason Sobel reports that the Texan has taken a liking to the TPC River Highlands track.

"I thought it was a really good golf course for us. You kind of maneuver the ball both ways . . . Poa annua greens, historically, aren’t my best, and so today was a big confidence boost. The rest of the golf course I really love."

Perhaps the Poa annua had its way on Friday. Spieth, partial toward Bermuda greens, dropped from 1.837 strokes gained putting to 0.2 Friday. He’s been Spiethian in hitting 75 percent of greens and is in line to stay near the top on a course that doesn’t particularly favor bombers.

If his putting stats can meet in the middle, win No. 2 in 2017 is Jordan Spieth’s for the taking.

Reed in the mix

If you told me in October after the Ryder Cup that Patrick Reed would not have a full field top-10 by late June, I’d one, say’s that a very random thing to predict, and two, not believe you.

Well, facts are facts, and Reed is going for his first high finish since placing sixth at January’s Tournament of Champions. In fairness, he’s placed top 15 three times since then and is trending upward after his T13 at the U.S. Open.

Reed (67-66, -7) will play alongside Spieth Saturday thanks to clever shots like this.

Reed’s last win was at the Barclays in August 2016.

Also looming three back is Jim Furyk (67-68, -5). His 58 at TPC River Highlands in 2016 stands as the lowest round in PGA Tour history.

Troy Merritt (65-68, -7) is tied with Reed in second place. He’s yet to finish higher than 24th in 2017 and broke a four event missed cut streak.

Big names head home

Much has been made of the Travelers attracting stronger and stronger fields to Cromwell, Connecticut, in its unfortunate spot on the schedule a week after the U.S. Open. SB Nation’s Brendan Porath has a nice piece detailing the doggedness of tournament organizers to turn the Travelers Championship into more than a run-of-the-mill event.

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The tournament puffed its chest promoting the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed, et al, who join defending champion and world top-50 player, Russell Knox in the field.

Those heavy hitters are spread across the gamut at the halfway point with some already hitting the road.

Spieth, as mentioned, has acquitted himself well. Reed’s right there, too, and Rory McIlroy (67-73, E) knows a thing or two about winning after making the cut on the number.

Then there’s Thomas (73-72, +5) who made just four birdies and Jason Day (72-70, +2) who missed a six-footer for par on No. 18 to make the cut and compounded it by missing the comebacker. Day was cooking with three birdies in his first six holes before faltering.

Next: Travelers Championship Power Rankings

The 2010 and 2015 tournament champ, Watson, rallied with a 67 Friday but was done in by Thursday’s 75 that included a triple on the card.