In the steaming playground of TPC River Highlands, Tommy Fleetwood calmly played his own game, sidestepping the mistakes that beset others. With every fairway hit, his calculated play carved out a three-shot lead, putting him at 16-under 194 heading into the final lap of the Travelers Championship.
Fleetwood, still in pursuit of his first PGA Tour title, left behind the missteps of more celebrated names. Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, who had shared the 36-hole lead with Fleetwood, found themselves faltering.
Scheffler, on his birthday, stumbled straight out of the gate with a triple bogey, a first for him starting a round on the tour. Despite the early serenade from fans, his game never regained the rhythm, ending with a 72, leaving him nine shots adrift.
Thomas, bearing the brunt of an errant shot, saw his hopes slide when he recorded a quadruple-bogey 9, dropping him out of contention with a 73 for the day.
In stark contrast, Fleetwood's precision was impeccable. Every shot contributed to a solid round that included three eagles across the tournament, two of which came on the 13th hole. Without the usual wind, only the merciless heat prevailed, yet Fleetwood remained unfazed, his eyes firmly set on a longed-for PGA victory.
Challengers are not far behind. Keegan Bradley, New England’s favorite and a previous Travelers Champion, shares second place after carding a 63. Russell Henley also posted an impressive 61, finding comfort in a strong rebound after self-reporting a penalty the day before.
For Fleetwood, it's more than just another leaderboard ascent. "I’m often leading in the stats for players without a PGA title," he chuckled, aware that a victory this time around could rewrite his story and silence the questions.
Jason Day sits five shots back thanks to a string of three birdies late in his round, while no other player poses an immediate threat. Fleetwood stands a mere 18 holes away from potentially fulfilling a significant career milestone.
As the final round looms, Fleetwood remains poised, prepared to take this rare opportunity and convert it into the glory that so narrowly eluded him on the PGA Tour thus far.
