A year ago at TPC River Highlands, Eric Cole was not thinking about a Sunday charge. He was trying to recover in a hospital.
Cole returned to Cromwell on Thursday and changed the whole memory of the place. He shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 to take the first-round lead at the Travelers Championship, 1 shot clear of a crowded group that included Scottie Scheffler and Matt Fitzpatrick. Rain earlier in the week left the greens receptive, and Cole used those conditions without turning the round into a careless shootout. He played the back 9 in 30 and added a key birdie at 17 after a sharp bunker shot.
For a 38-year-old still chasing his first PGA Tour win, this was more than a hot start. It was a healthy return to a course that had sent him home in the hardest way.
The Health Scare Was Not Routine
Cole’s withdrawal last year was not just a bad stomach bug. He has Addison’s Disease, a condition that affects how the body produces hormones needed to handle stress and blood pressure. When illness hits, that condition can become dangerous fast.
That is what happened during last year’s Travelers Championship. Cole said a stomach bug pushed his body into adrenal crisis. In simple terms, an adrenal crisis means the body cannot produce enough of the hormones it needs during physical stress. It requires medical attention and can become life-threatening if untreated.
Cole spent the night in the hospital and could not play the final round. He had opened that tournament with 3 straight rounds under 70 and sat in the middle of the pack. He wanted to finish the week. His body would not let him.
Eric Cole said, “I’m not sure if it’s redemption, but I’m happy to be here and feeling good.”
Cole is not chasing a movie version of redemption. He sounded more relieved than dramatic. After what happened last year, simply walking the same course and competing without his body betraying him carried weight.
Thursday Was Built On Control
The scorecard looked clean because Cole kept the round under control from the start. He made birdies at 6, 8, 11, 14, and 17. Nothing on the card looked forced.
Conditions helped, but they did not remove the need for execution. Rain came through the area on Monday and Tuesday, leaving the greens softer than the tournament would likely prefer. Cole described them as receptive, not extreme. That distinction matters. Players could attack, but they still had to control spin, start lines, and distance.
Cole did that best on the back 9. He did not simply roll in a few long putts. He gave himself enough looks, then cashed in when the scoring stretch arrived.
His recent form also made the round feel less random. Before a missed cut in Toronto, Cole had recorded 3 top-10 finishes in 4 starts. Thursday looked like a player carrying quiet momentum, not a player stumbling into a lucky number.
The Back 9 Changed The Round
Cole ignited his round at the par-5 13th. His second shot finished just right of the green, leaving a 65-yard pitch. The shot landed on line, released with the right speed, and dropped for eagle.
That was the moment the round moved from solid to serious.
The stretch fit Cole’s own view of the course. From 13 through 18, he saw chances if a player put the ball in the right places. The 14th can leave a wedge after a good tee shot. The 15th is reachable. The 16th does not play long. With the wind direction on Thursday, the final 2 holes also left shorter clubs.
Cole used that run properly. At the 431-yard 17th, he produced a strong bunker shot that set up birdie. On a hole where others failed to cash in, he found one more stroke.
His only clear frustration came at 18. An 8-foot birdie putt did not break the way he expected. The missed chance mattered because Cole knew the field was packed behind him. He walked off with the lead, but not with comfort.
The Lead Will Not Protect Him
With no cut in this 72-player signature event, the Travelers leaderboard offers no breathing room. Everyone keeps playing. Everyone keeps attacking.
A crowded pack sat just 1 shot back after opening with 64s. That group included Scheffler and Fitzpatrick, along with Ben Griffin, Nico Echavarria, Bud Cauley, and Kristoffer Reitan. Scheffler’s presence changes the pressure immediately. The world No. 1 played bogey-free and stayed close enough to make Cole keep pushing.
Cole understands that part. He has played enough professional golf to know Thursday does not decide anything. He is still seeking his first PGA Tour win, and the only way to get there is to keep giving himself chances.
That is why the 63 mattered. It did not solve the tournament. It did not erase last year’s hospital stay. It simply gave Cole a better opening chapter at a course where the last one ended too early.
Cole might not want to call it redemption. Shooting 63 a year after leaving this tournament for the hospital is as close as golf usually gets.
READ MORE: Travelers Championship 2026: Who Has the Legs to Conquer Cromwell?
FAQs
What happened to Eric Cole at last year’s Travelers Championship?
Cole got sick, went into adrenal crisis, spent the night in the hospital, and withdrew before the final round.
What did Eric Cole shoot at the Travelers Championship?
Cole shot a bogey-free 7-under 63 to take the first-round lead at TPC River Highlands.
What is Addison’s Disease?
Addison’s Disease affects hormone production. It can make illness or physical stress dangerous if the body cannot respond properly.
Did Eric Cole lead after Round 1 at Travelers?
Yes. Cole led by 1 shot after opening with a 63.
Is Eric Cole still chasing his first PGA Tour win?
Yes. Cole is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory.
