Rory McIlroy was all smiles after his impressive start to the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands course in Cromwell, Connecticut.

The Grand Slam and coming off a disappointing US Open had finish in sharing 19th place at Oakmont birdied three of his closing four holes in six-under- 64 to in the clubhouse enjoying lunch enjoying a share of second behind American Austin Eckroat.

The Northern Irishman – who saw his driver ruled as ‘non-conforming’ ahead of last month’s PGA Championship before then missing the cut at the Canadian Open – had been looking to build some momentum at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell as focus turns towards the Open at Royal Portrush.

World number two McIlroy landed a birdie at the second and then sank two more ahead of the turn at the final PGA Tour Signature Event of 2025.

After picking up another couple, a further birdie at the 17th – from the best part of 30 feet having hit a fine recovery shot out of the rough and over the water onto the green – saw him finish six under with 64 to sit in a tie for second, two shots behind early clubhouse leader Austin Eckroat.

American Eckroat hit a fine eight-under round, which included an eagle at the par-three 15th and a sixth birdie at the 18th.

McIlroy’s playing partner Keegan Bradley is also at six-under, having dropped a shot at the 12th, alongside Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion.

“Overall it was a good start to the tournament, and I think when you’re in a two-ball like that and we can sort of feed off one another a little bit too, that’s nice as well,” McIlroy said after his opening round.

“I just want to see some good golf and see some better shots. I think if you concentrate on that and you are concentrating on your quality of golf and concentrating on just trying to play to the best of your ability, the result will take care of itself.

“There’s no point in thinking about the result right now. I’m just trying to play as good as I can and make good swings, and if I do that enough, more than likely I’ll find myself in a position to have a chance to win.”

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, runner-up at Oakmont on Sunday, finished one over following a double-bogey six on the 17th.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, defending his Travelers Championship title, has been paired with newly-crowned US Open champion JJ Spaun in the later starters.