Canada’s Taylor Pendrith took the lead after the 2nd round of Rocket Mortgage Classic
Taylor Moore and Taylor Pendrith shared the Rocket Mortgage Classic lead at 13 under Friday, hoping to hold off a veteran trying to end a win drought and a promising young pro aiming for his first PGA Tour win.
Pendrith, a 32-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., shot an 8-under 64 at Detroit Golf Club, one of the tournament record. Moore, who started the day tied with Peter Kuest, had a 67 to match Pendrith at 13-under 131.
Rickie Fowler (65) and former top amateur Ludvig Aberg (67) were a shot back after two consecutive solid rounds.
The 34-year-old Fowler jumped into contention and filled in for eagle from 27 feet on the par-5 17th. Fowler had a shot at his first win since 2019 at the US Open two weeks ago with an opening of 62 before finishing with a 75 to drop to a tie for fifth place.
LOOK | Pendrith took the lead at 13 under:
Richmond Hill, Ont. native collected an impressive 8 birdies in the second round to tie Taylor Moore at 13-under at the PGA’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.
The 23-year-old Aberg, who played at Texas Tech, finished season No. 1 in the PGA Tour University rankings. The Swede became the first player to go straight from college to PGA Tour membership without going through Q school or earning enough money or points from sponsorship waivers. He is in his third event as a pro after tied for 25th in the Canadian Open and 24th in the Travelers Championship last week.
Collin Morikawa (67), Justin Lower (65), Aaron Rai (68), Adam Schenk (68) were 11 under, two strokes behind the leaders.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC, was three strokes back, while Adam Svensson of Surrey, BC, was 6-under after two rounds.
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., missed the cut.
LOOK | Hadwin shoots 6-under 66 in opening round:
Abbotsford, BC’s Adam Hadwin shot an opening round 6-under 66 at the PGA’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, Michigan and is tied for 10th.
Moore, 29, won the Valspar Championship in March when he defeated Jordan Spieth for his first PGA Tour title. He missed the cut in his previous three tournaments after tied for 72nd in the PGA Championship.
On Friday, he opened with a bridie and had a temporary cushion halfway through his round with five birdies in a six-hole stretch.
Pendrith, a big hitter, closed the gap with five birdies off his front nine and three more on his back in a bogeyless round. He placed seventh in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this year for his best career finish.
Bogey-free 64 to take part of the lead 😤
What a round of @TaylorPendrith @RocketClassic 👏 pic.twitter.com/OYv5qgjpTl
Ranked 789th in the world, Kuest bogeyed early and late in his round to finish with a 70 that set him back three shots.
He played as a qualifier for the third time this season and his third tee shot went wide to the left. Faced with a risk reward decision due to low tree limbs between him and the green, he played it safe and hit a shot to the right and up the fairway. After a close approach, he secured a four-foot putt, lipping out for bogey.
Justin Thomas, defending champion Tony Finau and Hideki Matsuyama missed the cut. Finau won a tournament-record 26-under last year.
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