Akshay Bhatia surged to the top with a stellar performance in the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club. The 22-year-old Texan, a two-time PGA Tour winner including the recent Texas Open, finished with a remarkable 8-under 64. His round was highlighted by an eagle chip-in from 83 feet on the 17th hole, followed by a closing birdie. Bhatia capitalized on a strong finish, going 6 under over his last six holes to secure the lead.
Following closely behind Bhatia are Taylor Montgomery and Michael Kim, both trailing by just one stroke. Montgomery fired an impressive 6-under 30 on his front nine and added another birdie on the back nine in a bogey-free round.
Defending champion Rickie Fowler also had a solid start, carding a 6-under 66 with three consecutive birdies to finish his round. Joining Fowler at 6-under are Will Zalatoris, Aaron Rai, Eric Cole, and Matti Schmid.
Notable performances include Neal Shipley, making his PGA Tour debut, who recovered from an early setback to finish strong. Shipley, known for his amateur success at the Masters and U.S. Open, eagled the first hole and made five consecutive birdies from holes 4 to 8, finishing one shot behind Bhatia.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic features a field with limited top-ranked players, including Bhatia ranked 31st in the world. Tom Kim, ranked 16th, struggled with fatigue after a playoff loss last week, posting a 73 and facing a challenge to make the cut on a course known for its receptive greens and scoring opportunities.
In amateur highlights, Luke Clanton, with a record-setting scoring average in Florida State, posted an opening round of 69, positioning himself well for the weekend. Fifteen-year-old Miles Russell, the youngest player to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour, navigated his PGA Tour debut with a mix of nerves and promising play, finishing with a 74.
