Daly keeps driver out of bag at Travelers

After posting a solid 2-under 68 to open his week at TPC River Highlands, John Daly was asked about his strategy for attacking the relatively short par-70 track.

He emphasized one specific: the lack of a driver in his bag.

Known for his grip-it-and-rip-it philosophy over the years in a career that has seen many ups, many downs and two major championships, Daly kept his composure through the opening round on Thursday morning just outside of Hartford. Staying clear of the big numbers that have marked his career, Daly made three birdies and only one bogey, while hitting 10 fairways and 12 greens. Not spectacular, but solid.

Daly also pointed out his enjoyment in coming back to the greater Hartford area, where he had played the event 11 times prior to this week, most recently in 2011, where he finished 72nd. He has made the cut five times in those 11 starts, with his best finish being T21 all the way back in 1997.

Daly ended Thursday tied for 34th, which would mark his best finish on the PGA Tour this season if he could hold it together thru Sunday. After seeing a bit of progress over the last couple of years, Daly's game has regressed in 2013, with a high finish of T50 in ten 2013 PGA Tour starts prior to Hartford. His best round is a 66 in round two at the Byron Nelson tournament in Texas, where he went on to finish T66.

Daly also noted after his round that many pins were tucked near the edges of greens in round one - some just two paces from the edge, in his estimation. But with his first sub-70 opening round of the year on the PGA Tour, and with yet another good-looking girlfriend by his side after the round, he was in good spirits, in no position to complain.