Rory McIlroy posted his fifth consecutive top-10 finish on the PGA Tour, claiming a share of seventh place in the Travelers Championship and finishing five shots behind Keegan Bradley after a low-scoring week at TPC River Highlands
Rory McIlroy thinks TPC River Highlands could be “stale” in the modern game after a low-scoring week in the Travelers Championship.
McIlroy posted a 64 in the final round at Connecticut to finish the week in a share of seventh place at 18-under, five shots behind winner Keegan Bradley.
The par-70 layout produced eight rounds of 62 or less during the PGA Tour’s final lofty event, and McIlroy conceded that the soft conditions made scoring conditions easier.
“I don’t particularly like it when a tournament is like this,” McIlroy said. “Unfortunately, technology has passed this course, right? It’s kind of made it stale, especially with how smooth it’s been with a bit of rain we had.”
“Again, like conversations going back to, you know, limiting the golf ball and things like that, when we get to courses like this, they just don’t present the challenge that they used to.
“You can grow the rough and hope you get some firm conditions for it to get tricky. I think the model for a really good golf course is not to grow the rough and make the fairways narrow. That brings everyone together.”
Rory McIlroy questioned TPC River Highlands challenge after low scoring tournament
“The plan is something like Los Angeles Country Club, where you have broad targets, but if you miss it’s a penalty. This is not that kind of golf course. It’s not that kind of design. It doesn’t have the land to do that.
“Unfortunately, when you have soft conditions like this and you have the best players in the world, this is what will happen.”
How McIlroy made an impression in Connecticut
McIlroy birdied from short range in the second and followed up consecutive gains from the fourth with two shots from 30 feet to take advantage of the par-5 sixth.
The world number 3 went from six feet in the seventh to five under par in his round, although he bogeyed in the ninth after a stray shot left him having to go down.
McIlroy birdied a six-footer at 11 but missed a shot from similar distance on the next, then took a shot at the par-5 13 before closing out a flawless hole with a run of five straight pars.
“I got off to a good start, which was good and what I felt I needed,” McIlroy said. “So, yeah, I hit a drive on nine that I didn’t think was too bad. I ended up against the boundary fence and bogeyed there, which stopped any momentum I had.”
Rory McIlroy finished the week at 18 under par.
“I rallied well with a birdie on 11th, but then I missed a chance on 12th. He birdied on 13th and then I couldn’t get anything to drop on those last few holes. I knew I was never going to win with the way I that Keegan [Bradley] I was playing, but I felt like I probably needed a couple more birdies.
“It would have been nice to finish a bit higher. Still, another good week and solid performance after a long run and I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks off.”
McIlroy will next feature at the co-sanctioned Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club on July 13-16, an event he skipped in 2022, before playing The 151st Open the following week.
The final Major of the year takes place at Royal Liverpool for the first time since 2014, when he took a two-stroke victory, with McIlroy hoping to repeat the performance as he looks to lift the Claret Jug for a second time.
The PGA Tour heads to Detroit next for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Live coverage begins Thursday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf.
