CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — The scoreboard at Travelers Championship made the U.S. Open seem like a distant memory.
A week after only eight sub-par rounds were carded at the U.S. Open, 60 players broke par in the first round.
Hunter Mahan, who finished second a year ago, shot an 8-under 62, one shot off the course record, to take the first-round lead. It was his sixth consecutive round in the 60s at the TPC at River Highlands.
``It's one of the courses that you look at it and you feel comfortable,'' he said. ``There's not really a shot here that I worry about.''
Rain suspended play Thursday night and 39 golfers wrapped up their first round Friday morning, including Olin Browne, who won this tournament in 1998. He finished with a 67, then eagled early in his second round to trail the leader by three.
``This is what golf should be,'' said Chris DiMarco, whose 64 was good for only second place. ``It shouldn't be about plus 20s and plus 25s. I think the fans, if we started doing that every week, I think we would lose our fans. I think they want to see us make birdies.''
Mahan shot a 31 on his first nine holes. He parred No. 10, then birdied his next four holes. A rain delay of more than an hour didn't seem to faze him, as he came back out and birdied No. 17.
``I hit my driver great, put the ball in play,'' he said. ``I hit a lot of good irons and wedges.''
That run allowed him to overtake DiMarco, who shot a strong round despite an ailing shoulder.
``I hit a ton of good golf shots today,'' Mahan said. ``But it's just the first round. We've got a long way to go.''
Mahan tied his best round, which came during the third round of the 2003 Valero Texas Open. His previous best this year was a second-round 65 at the Buick Invitational. He's had two top-10 finishes this year but has never won on tour.
``If I can build on my score from today, I feel I have a pretty good shot,'' he said.
The course record is 61, held by four players, including two-time champion Phil Mickelson, who withdrew from this year's tournament because of an ailing left wrist.
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