Cromwell, CT – Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson fired a 4- under 66 on Friday to take the lead during the suspended second round of the Travelers Championship.
Jacobson finished 36 holes at 9-under 131 and is one stroke clear at the TPC River Highlands.
It is a soggy TPC River Highlands where Jacobson is in front. Two weather delays for stormy weather caused the suspension of play on Friday with half of the field yet to finish round two.
The second half of the field will return at 7:00 a.m. (et) Saturday to finish off the second round.
Nathan Green and Charley Hoffman are both 8-under par, but still in the middle of their rounds. Green is 3-under at the turn, while Hoffman is 5-under through just six holes of his second round.
Blake Adams (64), Roland Thatcher (67) and Stuart Appleby (65) are knotted in fourth place at 7-under 133. Brian Davis (67), Marc Leishman (66) and Tommy Gainey (68) share seventh at minus-6.
U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson, who earned that first major title on Sunday at Olympic Club, shot a 1-under 71 on Friday and is part of a group tied for 10th at 5-under 135.
Masters winner Bubba Watson had a 1-over 71 in round two and is tied for 26th at 3-under 137.
First-round leader David Mathis struggled to a 3-over 73 and is part of that group with Watson.
Everyone is looking up at last year's winner.
Jacobson, who finally got his first PGA Tour victory a year ago, started on the 10th tee and broke into red figures with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 11th.
One hole later, the Swede holed a 4-foot birdie putt, but he shot up the leaderboard at the par-5 13th. Jacobson hit a 5-wood over the water to 35 feet and drained the long eagle putt to reach 9-under par for the championship.
Jacobson, who tied for 15th at the U.S. Open last week, came up well short of the putting surface with his approach from the fairway at 14. He pitched his third to 17 feet and missed the par putt to fall back to minus-8.
After four pars to close his front side, Jacobson missed the green at one, but made birdie from right of the putting surface. He parred four in a row, then sank a 4-footer for birdie at the par-5 sixth.
At Jacobson's last, he hit a 9-iron from the fairway to 45 feet. He ran his birdie effort five feet past the cup and missed the par putt coming back.
"It certainly opened up the possibility for a three-putt where I left it," admitted Jacobson. "I should have probably hit it level or passed it in there for an easier putt."
Despite the hiccup at the last, Jacobson was pleased with his performance.
"It was nice to get into a good start and get things running straightaway," said Jacobson. "So happy, really happy with being 4-under through four holes. Probably would have liked to have a couple of more as the day went on, but overall played really steady and made a few putts and a couple of good saves also along the way."
Armed with some confidence from his finish last week at The Olympic Club, Jacobson has a chance at history. Phil Mickelson is the only player to successfully defend his title in the 59-year history of this event.
"This is the first time for me, so I mean I don't know. We're only at the halfway mark," said Jacobson. "It's obviously tough to win a tournament no matter whether -- any tournament it's tough to win. To win two in a row is probably tougher."
NOTES: Jacobson doesn't have a single top 10 this season...If his lead holds up after the completion of the second round, it will be his first second-round lead on tour...Joe Ogilvie, Steve Wheatcroft and Mathew Goggin withdrew on Friday...Patrick Cantlay, who is making his professional debut, is even through two holes of his second round, but is 5-over for the tournament.
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