Dom Amore: Another thrilling Travelers finish was disrupted and doused by ultimate variable, weather

Dom Amore, Hartford Courant on Jun 28, 2026

Published in Golf

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CROMWELL, Conn. — Things were shaping up pretty much as expected Sunday. Scottie Scheffler, No.1 player in the world, and Viktor Hovland, with his army of fans from Norway following his every stroke, were dueling for the Travelers Championship.

They seemed to be playing it a little too safe, though, and while they were sticking close to par for the day, others were charging up from behind. Collin Morikawa birdied 18 to catch Scheffler and ducked into the clubhouse at 20 under as the rains descended upon the TPC River Highlands.

And there the prospects for a thrilling finish were temporarily doused at the Travelers Championship, a PGA Signature Event at which thrilling finishes has been a signature. Scheffler made birdie on the par-5 No. 13 in the intensifying rain to regain the lead, and before he could take his second shot on the 14th hole, tournament officials stopped play.

Heavy rain was bad enough, but lightning in the area is, obviously, nothing to be trifled with. Still, it’s roundabout way, the Travelers ended up exactly the way it was scripted, with Scheffler and Hovland tied on the 18th Green. Hovland’s fans were chanting his name, to be overtaken by the rest chanting “U-S-A.” Both missed difficult birdie putts, made par and everyone left the course, this time for the night, without a result. That will come Monday morning.

So the crowds on the course, estimated at about 45,000 earlier in the day, which was sunny and seasonably warm, began to disperse, urged to seek shelter and reminded their cars might be the safest place, though there was no re-entry allowed. The golfers retreated to the clubhouse as a small stream developed on the 18th hole.

The top-shelf River Highlands grounds crew went to work readying the last five holes for a 7:20 p.m. ET restart that would push the climax toward darkness, and keep down the electricity in the atmosphere. No one to blame, except Mother Nature, and like Father Time, she gets her way, regardless of plans. Not even the TV networks can fool Mother Nature.

So Scheffler, looking to break what for him is considered a slump — six months since his last victory — had to cling to his one-shot lead on a course that would be drastically altered from the one he burned up Friday, with a second-round 60. Hovland, who had made two bogeys in the first three rounds, but four already on Sunday, was 2 shots back, along with U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark, who was having a fabulous day, and had four holes to play.

Meanwhile, Morikawa, who started the day 9 strokes behind and fired a 61, was in the clubhouse, warm, safe and dry at 20 under par to watch the proceedings. Would he have to come back out for a playoff hole before darkness? Would he have to come out just to don the blue blazer and hoist the trophy? Or would the weather pull off the ultimate inconvenience and force everyone involved to alter travel plans and come back on Monday?

All of it was on the table Sunday night as the rain, which didn’t seem to be affecting most parts of the state, finally began to pull away from Cromwell and Rocky Hill. Crowds that had waited out the storm in the temporary structures let a cheer rise up as the signs that play was about to restart became apparent.

A fair number had made their way back to the 18th green to sit on the soaked grass as the air horn sounded, resuming play. Scheffler returned to the 14th fairway, his challenge to hold his 1-stroke lead through the last five holes on the super-slowed greens before the sun, which had reappeared, disappeared over the horizon.

Hovland applied the pressure, as his army of fans from Norway, hardly deterred by the weather, let out a scream when he sank a birdie putt from just off the 14th green, but Scheffler held his lead.

The drama had returned, Scheffler and Hovland resumed their duel, with Morikawa watching hopefully, but helplessly. A thrilling finish was again in the offing, just not the kind anyone imagined. Hovland made birdies on 15 and 16 to tie at 21-under. Scheffler’s 11-foot putt for birdie rimmed in and out on 17, his best chance to win.

And then it was on to Monday.

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