Akshay Bhatia (T1/-13) has his second career 36-hole lead/co-lead on the PGA TOUR and first since the 2024 Valero Texas Open, which he went on to win (led outright after each of the first three rounds and won in a playoff).
Related: Akshay Bhatia quick to take off at Rocket Mortgage Classic
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Is one of six players with multiple 36-hole leads/co-leads on TOUR this season (most: 5, Scottie Scheffler).
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His win at the Valero Texas Open was his second career PGA TOUR title (first: 2023 Barracuda Championship).
Is one of two players in the field bogey-free through 36 holes at the Rocket Mortgage Classic (other: Aaron Rai).
18-for-18 greens in regulation on the back nine through two rounds (15-of-18 on the front nine).
Comes off a T16 and T5 in his two most recent starts before this week at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship, respectively; played in the final group in the final round at last week’s Travelers Championship.
Is making his second start at the Rocket Mortgage Classic; missed the cut in his tournament debut in 2023.
Aaron Rai (T1/-13) has his first career 36-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR in an individual stroke-play event; previous best 36-hole position: T2/2023 RBC Canadian Open (finished career-best T3).
Held a share of the 36-hole lead with partner David Lipsky at the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans before finishing T23.
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Birdied his last two holes of the day, Nos. 17 and 18, to sign for a bogey-free 7-under 65 and join Akshay Bhatia as the only players bogey-free through 36 holes.
In only previous Rocket Mortgage Classic start, finished T9 in 2023 at 18-under 270.
Remains in search of his first career win on TOUR in his 85th start; best finish: T3/2023 RBC Canadian Open.
Seeks a third top-10 finish this season: T4/THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, T7/Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Taylor Montgomery (T3/-11) entered the week with three missed cuts and two WDs in his last five starts; remains in search of his first career win on TOUR in his 50th start this week.
Is making his sixth start in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Troy Merritt (T3/-11) records 8-under 64, his lowest score in 20 career rounds at the event; two previous top-10s in the event, including a runner-up in 2021 (lost in a playoff to Cam Davis).
With birdies on all four par-5 holes in round two, Cameron Young (T3/-11) improves on a 5-under 67 in round one with a 66 in round two; finished T2 in his only previous start in the event (2022).
Making his first professional start on TOUR (competing on a sponsor exemption), Neal Shipley (T10/-9) followed a 5-under 67 with a 68 in Friday’s second round; also received a sponsor exemption compete in next week’s John Deere Classic.
In his bid to become the first player to successfully defend the tournament’s title, Rickie Fowler (T38/-6) opens his sixth Rocket Mortgage Classic in 66-72 to reach 6-under 138; win in 2023 was his sixth TOUR title and first since the 2019 WM Phoenix Open.
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In his PGA TOUR debut, 15-year-old amateur Miles Russell (E) misses the cut after scores of 2-over 74 (R1) and 2-under 70 (R2); was 4-under par on his round through 11 holes before making bogeys at Nos. 12 and 16.
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