Jordan Spieth shares lead with Rory McIlroy one back at Travelers Championship

Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth bounced back from their US Open disappointments as they made flying starts to the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

Defending champion Spieth ended the opening day in a share of the lead with Zach Johnson after the American duo fired seven-under 63s, while McIlroy also found the TPC River Highlands layout to his liking and was also tied at the top until carding his only bogey of the round at the final hole.

A week after struggling to a 10-over 80 in the first round at Shinnecock Hills that would ultimately lead to him missing the cut, the work McIlroy put in on the practice round was evident as he missed only one green in regulation and backed up his excellent long game with some assured putting.

McIlroy birdied the opening two holes and, although he missed another great chance from eight feet at the next, he atoned from half that range on the fourth green before a good pitch at the long sixth set up his fourth gain.

The 29-year-old was unable to convert further opportunities from inside 10 feet at nine and 12, but he then reeled off three consecutive birdies to join Johnson and Spieth at the top of the leaderboard.

McIlroy had just a wedge in hand for his approach to the last, but his back foot appeared to slip a little on his downswing which caused him to tug it left of the target, and his pitch left him a 10-foot putt to save par which slipped just past the cup.

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His 64 left him one adrift of the leaders, with Johnson setting the early clubhouse target after a spectacular run of six consecutive birdies on the back nine which swept him to eight under, although he then raced his first putt at 17 seven feet beyond the hole and missed the return.

The two-time major winner later had company at the summit as Spieth showed signs of rediscovering his touch on the greens, making six birdies while also holing out from a greenside bunker for an eagle at the sixth - reviving memories of his dramatic winning shot from the sand at 18 in a play-off against Daniel Berger last season.

Spieth, who also made an early exit at last week's US Open, made three birdies in four holes from the 12th before hooking a three-wood into the water at the driveable 15th and carding his lone bogey of the day, although he did respond immediately by draining a 20-foot putt for birdie at 16.

McIlroy shares third with Peter Malnati and Brian Harman, while England's Paul Casey continued his fine form on the PGA Tour this year as he returned a six-birdie 65 , with Padraig Harrington one further back after the Irishman kept a bogey off his four-birdie card.

World No 2 Justin Thomas was also four under for the day along with Jason Day and Memorial champion Bryson DeChambeau, while big-hitting Scot Martin Laird opened with a confident 67 that was blighted by a double-bogey six at 17 after he found water with his approach.

Four days after becoming the first player to successfully defend the US Open title, Brooks Koepka looked set for another big round when he birdied four of his first five holes, but he looked jaded down the stretch and bogeyed four of the last six to slip to two under par.

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