If it’s Travelers, then Spieth is out front

Defending champion shoots 63, is co-leader with Johnson

CROMWELL, Conn. — Jordan Spieth has no idea what it is like to play from behind at the Travelers Championship.

The defending champion led after every round last year in his first visit to TPC River Highlands, and a shot a 7-under 63 on Thursday to match Zach Johnson for the first-round lead.

Spieth had six birdies and an eagle out the bunker on the par-5 sixth hole — a shot reminiscent of the greenside bunker shot that gave him a victory last year over Daniel Berger in a playoff.

Johnson went out in the morning and led for most of the day. He had eight birdies, including six straight on the back nine, one off the course record.

Rory McIlroy missed a 13-foot putt for par on the final hole that would have given him a share of the lead and finished in a three-way tie for third place with Brian Harmon and Peter Malnati.

Brooks Koepka followed his second straight U.S. Open victory with a 68.

EUROPEAN TOUR: In Pulheim, Germany, Sebastien Gros carded a 4-under 68 in windy conditions to lead by one shot after the opening round of the BMW International Open. The Frenchman had four birdies to take the lead before the turn, and a six-footer on the 15th hole moved him two ahead. But a bogey on the next hole left the 28-year-old Gros just one ahead of Jorge Campillo, Scott Jamieson, Aaron Rai and Henric Sturehed.

Sturehed eagled the par-5 No. 13 to take the lead in the morning at the Gut Laerchenhof club.

Christofer Blomstrand, Nico Geyger, Mark Tullo, Victor Perez, David Howell and Nicolai von Dellingshausen are a further stroke back at 2-under 70.

Defending champion Andres Romero was among a large group at 1 under.