Australia’s Jason Day is one shot behind leaders Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood after the second round of the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship.
Day fired a four-under par 66 for the second straight round to firmly place himself in contention at the US$20 million (A$30.9m) signature event at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut.
In what has been somewhat of a detox from the brutality of last week’s US Open at Oakmont, players have enjoyed the chance to go birdie hunting despite strong wind gusts.
FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo Sports, is streaming The 2025 PGA Tour LIVE & Exclusive | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Day reeled off seven birdies on Saturday morning Australian time but three front nine bogeys forced him to reach the turn in even-par 35.
Four more birdies on the back nine, including three-in-a-row at the 12th, 13th and 14th before signing off by draining a near 22-footer for birdie at the last, moved up the leaderboard late in the day.
“I got off to a bit of a rough start. I shouldn’t say that. I birdied the first hole,” Day said with a laugh.
LEADERBOARD: All the scores from the Travelers Championship
CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT – JUNE 20: Jason Day of Australia reacts to his birdie putt on the 18th green during the second round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June 20, 2025 in Cromwell, Connecticut. Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Andrew Redington / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
“But I started leaving a lot out to the right, got a little bit ahead of it. It was really difficult to have a correct warm-up today because of the 40 miles an hour gusts left to right on the range.
“When it’s windy, typically — pretty much everyone, I would say a majority of the guys out there get really fast with their tempo, so it’s very difficult to time everything correctly because you’re obviously battling the elements and you’re trying to hit a shot, and everyone gets a little bit quick, especially in transition.
“That’s kind of what I did. I got a little bit ahead of it and started leaving things out to the right just because I was a little bit late.
“Then the back nine was a lot better for me because I found my groove a little bit.
“We got down through 10, 11, 12 and there wasn’t as much wind and I hit a few shots and I started trusting the swing again, and then obviously had a great finish.”
Jason Day, of Australia, tees off the first hole during the second round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Friday, June 20, 2025, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)Source: AP
The key to Day’s charge was his short game magic.
He ranked first in strokes gained around the green, picking up 2.545 strokes on the field with his superb chipping.
Sporting tape on his left wrist proved no obstacle to Day’s touch and feel.
The 37-year-old did not play a single event between the PGA Championship and the US Open due to a wrist injury sustained moving a bike.
That followed a herniated disc in his neck that kept him out of tournament play for the three weeks leading up to missing the cut at the PGA Championship.
Day finished tied 23rd at the US Open and was unable to make a charge over the weekend after a three-under par second round 67 brought him back in the hunt after opening with a 76.
CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT – JUNE 20: Jason Day of Australia and caddie Luke Reardon prepare to tee off from the first tee during the second round of the Travelers Championship 2025 at TPC River Highlands on June 20, 2025 in Cromwell, Connecticut. Andrew Redington/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Andrew Redington / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
He said post-round that he simply needs to spend more time on the golf course.
“When you’re coming out of a US Open, I typically would take the week off,” Day said.
“And mind you, with some injuries I’ve had, I’ve missed two Signature Events, and I’m a little behind — this is my 12th event for the year.
“So it’s kind of difficult. I’m a little bit in catch-up mode right now, so I’ve got to try and play as much as I can.”
Thomas shot the equal low round of the day with a six-under par 64, matched only by Denny McCarthy (-7), to jump into a share of the lead alongside Scheffler and Fleetwood.
World No.1 Scheffler simmered in the second round after opening with a 62, while Fleetwood made a run with a 65 that included eagles at the par 5 13th and the short par 4 15th via a chip-in.
The Englishman also had a birdie putt at the last for the outright lead.
For Thomas, his performance was a strong response to missing the cut at Oakmont.
“I was very patient. I hit a lot of really, really good iron shots. I felt like I was in good control,” Thomas said.
“I didn’t feel like I drove it very well. I kept it in play and kept it in front of me, which is a big part of it, but I just kind of kept it out of trouble.
“I would much prefer to be hitting the middle of the club face and doing that, but it’s still a good sign on a really windy day like this.
“If I have far from my best I can get it around the course and just stay patient, and finally made some putts on that back nine. It was nice.”
Australia’s Min Woo Lee (+2) is in a share of 48th after a second round of 69, while countrymen Cam Davis and Adam Scott are tied 59th at +4 overall after rounds of 73 and 72 respectively.
