Akshay Bhatia surged into the lead at the US PGA Tour Rocket Mortgage Classic with a stunning eight-under-par 64 at Detroit Golf Club, highlighted by four birdies and an eagle in his final seven holes. The 22-year-old American, aiming for his third career PGA title and third in the past year, finished one stroke ahead of Michael Kim and Taylor Montgomery after a bogey-free round.
Reflecting on his performance, Bhatia expressed satisfaction with his solid play, stating, "I've been playing pretty solid. It's nice to be in this position. Putted great. I missed one green today, so I got that up and down. All in all, I hit it pretty nice with the irons and I made some putts."
Bhatia's late charge included birdies at the 12th and 14th holes, followed by a chip-in eagle from 82 feet at the 17th and a birdie at the 18th to cap off an impressive finish. He acknowledged the favorable scoring conditions, describing the tournament as a "birdie-fest" and emphasizing the importance of aggressive play on the soft, tricky greens.
Meanwhile, Taylor Montgomery, making a last-minute decision to play due to shoulder injuries, surprised himself with a stellar seven-under-par round, featuring six birdies and a bogey-free performance. Michael Kim also excelled with a bogey-free round, closing with three consecutive birdies to share the runner-up position with Montgomery.
"It's so weird," Montgomery reflected on his unexpected success. "I haven't worked hard at all on my game because I haven't been able to. Come out and shoot 7-under. What the hell? How is that possible?"
The leaderboard remains tightly packed with contenders after the first round, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
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