2022 Travelers Championship leaderboard: Rory McIlroy stands on top with more big names in contention

There were no signs of a major championship hangover for McIlroy on Thursday

Birdies were flying all day at TPC River Highlands as the 2022 Travelers Championship got underway Thursday. Leading the charge, both on and off the course, was none other than world No. 2 Rory McIlroy. Signing for a bogey-free 8-under 62, the Northern Irishman has positioned himself atop yet another leaderboard.

Victorious just two weeks ago at the Canadian Open, a "disappointing" top-five finish at the U.S. Open has done nothing to damper the spirits of the 21-time winner on the PGA Tour. Coming into this tournament as the betting favorite, McIlroy's price has shortened considerably from 9-1 to 9/4 at Caesars Sportsbook as he and co-leader J.T. Poston hold a slim one-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele and Martin Laird.

"Anytime you start with a 62, you're going to take it," said McIlroy, whose 62 matched his lowest round of the season. "I feel like the start I got off to was sort of slow in a way. I birdied the two holes on the back nine that you should, 13 and 15, and then made a nice one on 18 to turn in 3-under par. Then once I got going on the front side there, that's when I started to really feel it and started to hole some putts and hit some quality shots ... overall a really good round of golf and a great start."