The second round of the 2025 Travelers Championship observed TPC River Highlands facing more severe conditions than usual due to strong winds that raised the average course score above par on Friday. Justin Thomas and Denny McCarthy were the most effective, both achieving a score of 6-under 64 and enhancing their positions on the leaderboard as the leaders from the first day struggled to maintain their distance from the competition.
Thomas climbed to tie for first place with Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood at 9 under, while McCarthy trailed by two strokes. Notably, Jason Day is also in contention, hitting matching 66s across the initial two rounds and seeking his first PGA Tour victory in two years.
Thomas made substantial gains on the back nine, achieving five consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 15th, successfully navigating the demanding conditions. He also recorded over 146 feet of putts on Friday, relying on a strong putter during one of the best rounds of the day without major errors.
“Get this man some water… he is on fire 馃敟 Jonathan with five straight birdies and now just two back of the lead.”
After his round, Thomas reflected on how the challenging conditions complemented his game style, stating:
“I think this is why I鈥檝e had good rounds in such conditions, as I must play instinctively rather than think too much about my swing, adapting to the gusty winds.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, the winds are expected to calm to a range of 5-10 mph, offering more scoring chances, though Thomas may not welcome the shift in conditions. Fleetwood also made his move up the leaderboard on Friday, shooting a 65, including two eagles on the 13th and 15th holes.
“Two eagles in three holes 馃憖 Tommy Fleetwood rockets up the leaderboard and is just one back.”
Despite remaining co-leader, Scheffler has missed opportunities to take a more commanding lead, having missed a crucial shot on the 17th hole that cost him a double bogey, reducing his lead. Still, he was content with the way he played on Friday despite the challenges presented by the wind.
“I played really well again today, despite an errant shot that cost me. But I felt I managed the conditions effectively overall.”
As conditions become more favorable for the weekend, everyone close to the top will be optimistic about their potential to achieve low scores and contend for victory in the Travelers Championship.
