Xander Schauffele takes control in Travelers, Rory McIlroy crashes

Xander Schauffele tied for Friday's low round with his second consecutive 63 to storm ahead by five strokes at the midway point of the Travelers Championship, but it was a day to forget for Rory McIlroy.

Overnight co-leader McIlroy had a disastrous finish to his round, this after carding six birdies in his first 11 holes. Then came a quadruple-bogey eight on the par-four 12th, following a wayward tee-shot that saw him incur a penalty. Subsequent shots found the rough and a bunker.

On 15, the four-time major winner hit his third shot into the water, eventually holing out for a double-bogey. A birdie on the next offered a reprieve, with McIlroy signing for a 70, that leaves him at eight under, some six shots behind Schauffele. That's the same mark as Seamus Power, who carded six birdies and just the one bogey, for a round of 65.

Schauffele has started the tournament as the only golfer without a bogey on back-to-back days, firing seven birdies in both the first and second rounds at TPC River Highlands. His 126 thus far marks a PGA career best through 36 holes, and his five-stroke lead is the largest at the event in nearly four decades.

Even with low scores abundant after two days, the leader at 14-under is the lone player in double digits below par. A group of five are knotted in second place at nine-under, including Kevin Kisner (64), Nick Hardy (64),Harris English (65), Patrick Cantlay (67) and Australian Cam Davis (66).

Pain. Rory McIlroy makes double bogey on 15 after chipping his third shot into the water. pic.twitter.com/vUqjc0Hgst

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