Eric Cole Leads 2026 Travelers a Year After Hospital Scare

Eric Cole leads the 2026 Travelers Championship after an opening 7-under 63 at TPC River Highlands on Thursday, exactly one year after a health scare forced him out of the same event. Cole, who manages Addison’s disease, was hospitalized and withdrew from the final round here in 2025. He returned to take a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler and five others.

The 38-year-old summed up the turnaround simply when asked. “I’m not sure if it’s redemption, but I’m happy to be here and feeling good,” Cole said.

How Eric Cole built his 63 at TPC River Highlands

Cole opened with a bogey-free 7-under 63 to grab the first-round lead at the Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour’s reset week after the U.S. Open. The round’s signature moment came at the par-5 13th, where he pitched in from 65 yards for eagle. He nearly stretched the lead on his closing hole, lipping out an 8-foot birdie putt that would have given him a two-shot cushion.

His 63 put him one clear of a crowded chase pack at 6 under that includes world number one Scottie Scheffler, who posted a bogey-free 64, along with Matt Fitzpatrick, Ben Griffin, Nico Echavarria, Bud Cauley, and Kristoffer Reitan. TPC River Highlands is a par-70 layout of only about 6,844 yards, one of the shortest stops on tour, and soft conditions this week have set up the low-scoring, birdie-heavy week the field expected.

What happened to Eric Cole at the 2025 Travelers

One year ago at this same tournament, Cole was forced to withdraw from the final round and was hospitalized after a stomach illness left him unable to play. He has Addison’s disease, a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormones it needs to manage stress and regulate blood pressure, which can turn an ordinary illness into a serious problem.

That backdrop is what makes a clean, bogey-free 63 at the top of the leaderboard so notable. Cole arrived in Cromwell in good health and good form, and he answered last year’s disappointment with the best opening round of his week.

Eric Cole‘s hunt for a first PGA Tour win

Cole is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory. He has more than 120 tour starts and over 12 million dollars in career earnings without a title, and he has come up just short in two playoffs, losing to Chris Kirk at the 2023 Honda Classic and to Russell Henley at the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge. Henley birdied his last three holes at Colonial to force a playoff, then made a fourth straight birdie on the first extra hole to keep Cole winless.

He has been one of the steadier players on tour this spring, stringing together strong finishes that included that Charles Schwab runner-up and contention at the Memorial. A Travelers win would not only be his maiden PGA Tour title, it would come at the very course where his 2025 ended in a hospital bed.

Betting and DFS angle for Eric Cole at the Travelers

Cole’s profile fits TPC River Highlands as well as almost anyone in the field. This is a precision and short-game test rather than a power course, and Cole pairs elite short game with strong work on the tricky poa annua greens. He can also lay up off the tee to hide his one weakness, distance, on a layout where the average drive is short and missing the fairway carries a heavy penalty.

That makes him a live name in the placement markets, top 5, top 10, and top 20, even for bettors who do not want to chase the outright after a first-round lead. With no cut at this 72-player signature event, Cole is guaranteed all four rounds and four full days to chase the title. Light winds all week mean little protects par, so the leaderboard should stay bunched and the hot putters should keep contending.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Addison’s disease?

Addison’s disease is a rare disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough key hormones, including cortisol, which the body relies on to handle physical and mental stress and to regulate blood pressure. It is typically managed with daily hormone replacement, and an ordinary illness can hit harder for someone who has it, which is why a stomach bug led to Cole’s hospitalization in 2025.

Is the Travelers Championship a no-cut event?

Yes. The Travelers is one of the PGA Tour’s signature events, with a limited 72-player field and no 36-hole cut, so every player in the field plays all four rounds. That means Cole is locked into the weekend regardless of how Friday goes.

How much is the 2026 Travelers Championship purse?

The Travelers Championship carries a 20 million dollar purse, with 3.6 million dollars and 700 FedExCup points going to the winner. A victory would be a career-changing payday for Cole on top of his first PGA Tour title.

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