England's Aaron Rai two shots off lead at PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic as Akshay Bhatia hits front
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Friday 28 June 2024 09:55, UK
Akshay Bhatia produced a stunning finish to his first round as he took the lead on day one of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club on Thursday, with England's Aaron Rai two shots off the lead.
Bhatia racked up four birdies and chipped in an eagle from 83 feet in his final seven holes to finish with an eight-under-par round of 64.
"It's always nice to finish like that," said Bhatia. "This tournament's always kind of a birdie fest, so birdies and eagles help a lot.
Bhatia, who clinched the Texas Open in April for his second PGA Tour title, was six-under over his last six holes in the first round. He tied for fifth last week at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, where he was in the final group that was disrupted by climate protesters storming the 18th green.
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Taylor Montgomery and Michael Kim were a stroke back.
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Montgomery had a six-under 30 on his front nine and added one more birdie on the back in a bogey-free round. He was pleasantly surprised by his performance, playing for the first time since withdrawing from the Byron Nelson in early May due to injured shoulders.
"I was more nervous today than I have been on the golf course in forever just because I felt so unprepared," Montgomery said, adding he had played just four times in two months.
Tony Finau set the tournament record, winning at 26-under two years ago, and Rickie Fowler needed to win in a playoff last year when 24 under wasn't good enough through 72 holes.
Fowler shot 66, closing with three straight birdies much to the delight of the tournament's sponsor that pays him to be a brand ambassador.
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"There's always that little extra pressure partly from being a partner with Rocket and being the defending champion here," Fowler said.
England's Rai, Will Zalatoris, Eric Cole and Matti Schmid also were at 66, while Cameron Young and Neal Shipley, making his PGA Tour debut, were another shot back.
Talented 15-year-old Miles Russell took full advantage of his sponsor exemption as he became the youngest player in Korn Ferry Tour history to make a cut with a first-round 74.
"Should have been nervous all day," he said, "It was a good day, settled in nicely."
The baby-faced Russell looks his age, but his game is mature. He calmed his nerves to hit his first drive 305 yards to the middle of the fairway, and went on to make some par-saving putts before carding his first birdie on his 12th hole.
Watch the second round of the PGA Tour's Rocket Mortgage Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Friday. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and more, without a contract, with NOW.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland
