Spieth leads in Travelers debut

Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Travelers Championship on Thursday in Cromwell, Conn.

CROMWELL, Conn. — Jordan Spieth didn’t take long to figure out TPC River Highlands.

Making his debut at the Connecticut course, the 23-year-old Texan had eight birdies and a bogey Thursday for a 7-under 63 and a one-stroke lead in the Travelers Championship.

Spieth birdied five of the first eight holes and took sole possession of the lead on the final hole, hitting a wedge to 4 feet for birdie on the par-4 18th.

“Being 3 under through four it helps you walk a little easier, it helps kind of the shots you are playing throughout the round,” Spieth said. “You don’t feel like you have to take as many chances and I was able to play away from pins when I was in a little bit of trouble.”

The two-time major champion tied for 35th on Sunday in the U.S. Open at Erin Hills.

Johnson Wagner and Brett Stegmaier, a Connecticut native who grew up about 25 miles from the course in Madison, were tied for second.

The 33-year-old Stegmaier said he decided to become a professional golfer while in the gallery at the tournament in 2000, watching Notah Begay sink a 25-foot birdie putt to win. It was his fourth appearance at the Travelers and his first sub-par round.

“To be here now, it’s almost a John Woike / PGA-Travelers At TPC River Highlands Cromwell, Conn. Purse: $6.8 million Yardage: 6,841; Par: 70 (35-35) First Round Jordan Spieth Johnson Wagner Brett Stegmaier Graham DeLaet Troy Merritt Xander Schauffele Fabian Gomez Hudson Swafford Padraig Harrington Brian Harman Boo Weekley Tom Hoge Matt Every Scott Piercy Mark Hubbard Kevin Na Daniel Summerhays Beau Hossler Harris English Keegan Bradley Robert Streb Rory McIlroy Jim Furyk Patrick Reed Rod Pampling Mackenzie Hughes Michael Kim David Hearn Byeong Hun An Sebastian Munoz David Lingmerth Wesley Bryan The Associated Press 31-32—63 31-33—64 34-30—64 32-33—65 31-34—65 31-35—66 32-34—66 30-36—66 32-34—66 33-33—66 34-32—66 34-32—66 32-34—66 32-34—66 34-32—66 32-34—66 33-33—66 33-33—66 33-34—67 34-33—67 33-34—67 33-34—67 34-33—67 34-33—67 36-31—67 33-34—67 34-33—67 33-34—67 33-34—67 33-34—67 32-35—67 34-33—67

little surreal,” Stegmaier said. “Just being on tour, I realize it’s not the greatest thing in the world, because it’s still a job. You still got to grind and there’s low points. But with the right perspective, to be here now talking to you guys, it’s pretty cool.”