Scottie Scheffler nearly added another historic number to his already loaded PGA TOUR résumé Friday at the Travelers Championship, but a final-hole miss left him one shot short of golf’s magic number.

Scheffler had a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at TPC River Highlands that would have delivered a 59 and made him just the second player in PGA TOUR history with multiple sub-60 rounds. The putt stayed out, leaving Scheffler with a brilliant 10-under 60 and the early clubhouse lead during a day of aggressive scoring at the final signature event of the regular season.

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Scheffler moved to 16-under 124 through two rounds, two shots clear of Viktor Hovland, who authored his own charge with a 61. Hovland also had a late look at 59, needing birdies on the final two holes before settling for pars.

The soft conditions at TPC River Highlands opened the door for players to attack, and Scheffler wasted little time taking advantage. After a bogey at the par-4 second hole, he caught fire with the kind of ball-striking and putting combination that has made him the dominant player in the sport.

Scheffler said the morning wave offered a noticeably different test than the previous afternoon, when firmer greens and wind made the course much more demanding. On Friday, the setup rewarded players who stayed aggressive and continued to create birdie chances.

Behind Scheffler and Hovland, the leaderboard remained packed with major names and matchup intrigue. Akshay Bhatia fired a 62 to move to 12 under, matching first-round leader Eric Cole, who followed his opening 63 with a steady 65. Cole parred his final eight holes, leaving him four shots off Scheffler’s lead but still firmly in contention entering the weekend.

That Cole-Bhatia pairing is also the focus of Johnny’s Saturday Matchup, featured in the FanStreamSports.com graphic. The highlighted play is Eric Cole +115 over Akshay Bhatia at the Travelers Championship, with @JGerberPGAPro presenting the matchup as part of From The Rough Golf Podcast coverage. The feature is presented by Orion Golf and Tom’s Town, with the reminder: “If you’re not following, you’re not winning!”

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The matchup carries added juice because both players are sitting at the same 12-under number after two rounds, but they arrived there in different fashion. Bhatia surged with one of the best rounds of the day, while Cole stayed in the mix despite cooling off late after his opening-round lead. For a Saturday head-to-head, that creates a compelling contrast: Bhatia brings momentum, while Cole brings consistency and the value price.

Cole’s second round may not have matched Thursday’s fireworks, but a 65 after sleeping on the lead is still a strong response. His ability to avoid a major mistake kept him near the top of the board, even as Scheffler and Hovland pushed the scoring ceiling lower.

Bhatia, meanwhile, made it clear that TPC River Highlands demands nonstop pressure. On a course where birdies can come in bunches, simply protecting position is rarely enough. His 62 showed he is comfortable playing that kind of aggressive golf, and he will likely need more of it over the weekend.

Matt Fitzpatrick, Bud Cauley and Ben Griffin also remained in the hunt at 10 under, each shooting 66 on Friday. With soft scoring conditions and several proven players stacked near the top, the Travelers Championship is positioned for a high-pressure weekend where a single stalled stretch could quickly change the board.

Scheffler knows that better than anyone. His 60 was almost historic, but it also served a more practical purpose: it put him in prime position to chase another title. He already owns a sub-60 round from his rookie season, a 59 at TPC Boston in 2020, and his latest near-miss came at a venue famous for low scoring. Jim Furyk shot 58 at the Travelers in 2016, three years after posting a 59 at the BMW Championship.

Scheffler joked that even a 59 would not have been the course record at TPC River Highlands because of Furyk’s 58, but the bigger takeaway was obvious. When Scheffler gets a soft course and a hot putter, the entire field is under pressure.

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The question now is whether anyone can chase him down over the weekend.

For Cole and Bhatia, Saturday brings two battles: staying connected to Scheffler at the top and winning a head-to-head matchup that has become one of the more interesting betting angles on the board. With both players tied at 12 under, Johnny’s Saturday Matchup at FanStreamSports.com has a clean setup: Eric Cole +115 over Akshay Bhatia, with @JGerberPGAPro backing the plus-money side.

At the Travelers Championship, the scoring has gone low. Now the pressure goes up.