Cancelling Travelers would have been foolish move, insists McIlroy

RORY McILROY says it would have been ‘silly’ to call off this week’s Travelers Championship after shooting a seven-under par opening round 63 to fire himself into contention.

The world No 1 backed the PGA Tour’s decision to continue with the restarted season despite three positive Covid-19 tests – including Brooks Koepka’s Portrush native caddie Rickie Elliott and Graeme McDowell’s bagman Kenny Comboy – ahead of this week’s event.

There had also been five player withdrawals in the build-up to the tournament, while the USA registered 36,880 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a record high since the pandemic began.

However, McIlroy said the Tour’s return was going “really well”, pointing to just seven positive tests across the opening three weeks on the main tour as well as the development Korn Ferry Tour.

“I saw a couple of calls to shut the tournament down, which is silly from my point of view,” said McIlroy after he put on an exhibition in tee-to-green golf in his first round.

“There have been almost 3,000 tests administered.

The percentage of positive tests is a quarter of a percent.

“I think as a whole, it’s been going really well. There are a couple of loose ends that we needed to tidy up, and I think we’ve done that.”

The World No 1 was left trailing early leader Mackenzie Hughes, the Canadian taking the solo lead after the morning starters with a stunning 10-under par 60.

For McIlroy (pictured), it could, and should, have beenbetter.

Over the course of his round, the Holywood star missed just two greens in regulation. From there, while he made enough putts to reach seven under, McIlroy also missed eight makeable putts within 16 feet, including two from seven feet.

“I’ve to keep reminding myself it’s a 72-hole golf tournament and there are plenty of chances throughout the week to make birdies,” he said. “Even after the first few holes where I had chances and the didn’t quite convert, you just have to keep telling yourself there are so many more chances coming up.”

There was also a low score for Shane Lowry, who carded a fourunder par 66. The Open champion turned at two under after making the most of the reachable par five and driveable par four.

Impressive approach shots set up back-to-back birdies at the second and third before Lowry birdied the only other par five on the course but then slipped back with a threeput bogey on his penultimate hole.

But having played a practice round on Tuesday with Koepka and McDowell, the inevitable Covid-19 questioned followed.

“I just kind of wish people would stop being so negative,” said Lowry, who played just nine holes with the Koepka’s and McDowell and having tested negative twice was cleared by the PGA Tour to tee it up this week.

“I think the PGA has done a great job, and I’m very happy to be back to work.”

Bryson DeChambeau finished five under par with five birdies in a blemish-free round and 50-year-old Phil Mickelson put himself right in contention with a six-under 64.

Travelers Championship, Live Sky Sports Golf, 11.45.