PGA Tour Looks For Distraction From Numerous Positive COVID-19 Tests By Players & Caddies

Week three of the PGA Tour’s resumed season started on Thursday with the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Once again there are no fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. In the days leading up to the tournament as numerous players and caddies tested positive for COVID-19, some big names withdrew including Brooks Koepka and Webb Simpson. 

If the PGA Tour needed a distraction from the virus, they certainly got one on Thursday with an electric first round. After round one, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes shot his career-low on the tour with a 10-under par 60, giving him a three shot lead over Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland.

Hughes’ 60 was the best opening round score ever in the Travelers Championship, but not the best round in the tournament’s history as Jim Furyk shot a 58 in the final round of the 2016 Travelers.

The 29-year old commented on his round and the potential to be put into the record books. “I kind of joked walking off there that 59 wasn’t even the record because of Jim’s 58,” said Hughes. “It’s probably not even that special around here. But as a personal milestone, it would have been neat.”

If Thursday’s round is any sign of what might be on the way, it should be another electric week in the PGA Tour’s third week back, which has already seen The Charles Schwab Challenge go to a playoff and the RBC Heritage being won in record fashion.

Hughes is set to tee it up for his second round at 1:40 p.m. EST, where he will look to grow his lead and inch closer to possibly winning for the second time in his career on the PGA Tour.