Taylor Moore and Taylor Pendrith are co-leading the Rocket Mortgage Classic after 36 holes, with both players sitting at 13 under par. They will be looking to fend off competition from veteran Rickie Fowler and up-and-coming pro Ludvig Aberg, who are just one shot behind.
Pendrith had a spectacular round, shooting an 8-under 64 at Detroit Golf Club, narrowly missing the tournament record. Meanwhile, Moore carded a solid 67 to join Pendrith at the top of the leaderboard.
Fowler, who hasn’t won a tournament since 2019, is in contention after a stellar round that included chipping in for eagle on the par-5 17th. He had a chance to win the U.S. Open two weeks ago but faltered in the final round. However, he feels confident about his game and believes he can come out on top.
Aberg, a 23-year-old Swede who recently transitioned from college to professional golf, is also in the mix. He finished his college season ranked number one in the PGA Tour University ranking and has shown promise in his first few events as a pro.
Other players within striking distance include Collin Morikawa, Justin Lower, Aaron Rai, and Adam Schenk, who are all at 11 under par, just two shots off the lead.
Moore, who won the Valspar Championship earlier this year, is hoping to recapture his winning form. Although he has missed the cut in his past three tournaments, he remains confident in his game and believes he is not far off from finding his rhythm.
Pendrith, a powerful hitter from Canada, closed the gap with a strong performance, recording five birdies on his front nine and adding three more on the back nine. He has previously finished seventh in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The third-round qualifier Peter Kuest sits three shots back after a round of 70. Despite a few costly mistakes, he remains in contention and will be looking to make a move in the upcoming rounds.
Notable players who failed to make the cut include defending champion Tony Finau, Hideki Matsuyama, and Justin Thomas, who received overwhelming support from the crowd despite his struggles on the green.
The tournament is shaping up to be an exciting battle between a mix of seasoned veterans and young prospects. With the leaderboard tightly packed, it remains anyone’s game. As the players head into the weekend, it will be interesting to see who will come out on top and claim the Rocket Mortgage Classic title.
