Spieth storms into early lead at Travelers

HARTFORD, United States: Jordan Spieth posted the lowest opening-round score of his career on Thursday with a 63 at the Travelers Championship.

Spieth made his eighth birdie of the round on his last hole to seize a one-shot lead in his first career appearance at the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship.

Rory McIlroy, who is also playing in the event for the first time, shot a 67 after missing the cut last week at the US Open.

Tied for second were Johnson Wagner and Brett Stegmaier after posting 64s in the morning. Spieth played in the afternoon at par-70, 6,841-yard River Highlands course.

Spieth, who has finished in the top-10 six times in 15 events this year, hit eight of 14 fairways in regulation and 15 of 18 greens while needing 27 putts.

Two-time major winner Spieth built on the momentum from his final-round 69 at the US Open, rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole on Thursday.

Stegmaier, a Connecticut native who has missed the cut in eight of his last 10 tournaments, reeled off seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch through the middle of the opening round.

His lone blemish was a bogey at number nine, his final hole of the day, as he matched his low round on the PGA Tour.