Aaron Rai shot a 4-under 67 on Friday to take a one-shot lead at the Myrtle Beach Classic, reaching 10-under and putting himself in position for a weekend run at the opposite-field event. Brandt Snedeker and Mark Hubbard were tied for second at 9-under after matching rounds that kept the pressure on the leader.
Snedeker, playing in a moderate breeze, posted a bogey-free 66. Hubbard carded a 67 after early mistakes but steadied himself with four straight birdies around the turn. Rai had played the first two days alongside Brooks Koepka, and after the round he said he loved sharing the group with Koepka and Davis Thompson, calling it a great atmosphere.
The numbers give Rai a real chance to do more than defend a lead. The winner at Myrtle Beach gets into next week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink if he is not already eligible, and Rai entered on a special invitation based on his world ranking, where he sat No. 42. He was the only player from the top 50 in the field, a sign of how unusual this week’s setup is for a tournament that sits outside the main playoff spotlight.
That also helps explain why the cut fell at even par and why the leaderboard has room for volatility. Nine players who missed the weekend here are already in the PGA Championship field next week, while Rai is chasing both another victory and another step in a season that has been more uneven than the ranking suggests. He has two top-25 finishes in eight starts this year, with a best result of T-23 at the Cognizant Classic, and his only PGA TOUR win came at the 2024 Wyndham Championship in what is now 121 TOUR starts.
Rai’s position is stronger than his season line, but it is not secure. He arrived at Myrtle Beach as No. 58 in the 2025 FedExCup Fall standings after qualifying for the FedExCup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, and the final round will decide whether this week becomes a small reset or a much bigger statement. Koepka sat six shots back in a tie for 22nd, leaving Rai with the clearer path and the heavier expectation going into the weekend.
