Travelers Championship: Rory McIlroy and JT Poston share early lead in Connecticut

Rory McIlroy and JT Poston shot opening eight-under 62s to share the lead at the Travelers Championship.

World number two McIlroy went bogey-free in his first round at TPC River Highlands to continue his recent run of strong form.

Xander Schauffele and Scotland's Martin Laird are a shot back in Connecticut.

McIlroy went into the event having finished tied fifth at last week's US Open - his third top-10 major placing of the season.

He said the River Highlands course offered a welcome relief after the challenge of Brookline for the US Open.

"It's like the anti-US Open here," said the Northern Irishman.

"It's like US Open rehab coming here. You're like, 'Oh, I can actually make some birdies. This is nice'."

McIlroy has finished in the top 10 in five of his last six events, a run that included a successful defence of his Canadian Open title.

In the opening round of the Travelers he continued to find prosper on the greens, holing a 47-foot putt to make birdie on the par-four seventh.

Three more birdies followed on the back nine including one on the 18th as he took the clubhouse lead.

However world number 162 Poston also went bogey-free, making six birdies in the opening nine holes.

"I feel like my scores and my results may not have shown that the last few weeks or months, but I felt like I was getting close, and I've been working hard at it," Poston said.

"Today was kind of one of those days where it finally clicked a little bit."

Sitting one shot behind Schauffele and Laird are American trio Charles Howell III, Webb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay, while Matthew NeSmith and Australia's Cameron Davis are a further shot back on five under.

Callum Tarren and Matt Wallace were the best of the Englishmen, finishing on three under alongside Ireland's Seamus Power.

Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth shot a five-over 75, mixing four birdies with five bogeys and two double bogeys.