At the Travelers Championship, Keegan Bradley produced a ball-striking masterclass as he carded rounds of 62, 63, 64 and 68 to pick up a sixth PGA Tour title. What's more, during the final day, the American was five-under thru 12 holes, before three bogeys on his final six gave him a two-under-par closing round.
Along with Bradley, many players shot low at TPC River Highlands, with eight rounds of 62 being posted in the PGA Tour's elevated event. Because of the low-scoring, Rory McIlroy questioned the layout of the Connecticut course, especially with the rise of modern technology.
"I don't particularly like when a tournament is like this," explained McIlroy, who posted his fifth consecutive top-10. "Unfortunately technology has passed this course by, right? It sort of has made it obsolete, especially as soft as it has been with a little bit of rain that we had.
"So, again, like the conversations going back to, you know, limiting the golf ball and stuff like that, when we come to courses like this they just don't present the challenge that they used to."
The discussion on bifurcation in golf has always been a major talking point in the sport. In March 2023, golf's governing bodies confirmed that they have proposed a way or bifurcation where elite golfers use different golf balls to recreational golfers. Obviously, this caused a mixed reaction from those on the circuit but, in the case of McIlroy, he is heavily in support of the move, with the four-time Major winner previously stating: "I really like it. I really do. I know that’s a really unpopular opinion amongst my peers, but I think it’s going to help identify who the best players are a bit easier.”
Another potential factor is course set-up, something which can affect the scoring. This again though comes with its hindrances, with McIlroy stating at the Travelers Championship: "You can grow the rough up and hope you get some firm conditions so it gets tricky. I think the blueprint for a really good golf course isn't growing the rough up and making the fairways tight. That bunches everyone together."
He went on to add: "The blueprint is something like LACC where you have wide targets, but if you miss it's penal. This isn't that sort of golf course. It's not that sort of layout. It doesn't have the land to do that. So, you know, unfortunately when you get soft conditions like this and you've got the best players in the world, this is what's going to happen."
