Aaron Rai took the lead at the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic on Friday, reaching 10 under after rounds of 65 and 67 at Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The opposite-field PGA Tour event had a field of 123 players and will cut to the low 65 and ties.
Rai, who held a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker at the halfway point, said there is no special right to win based on ranking. “Not at all. No matter what anyone's world ranking is, whether you are Scottie Scheffler, No. 1, or a little lower down, there's no divine right in golf,” he said. “Everyone starts at the same playing field on Thursday, and everyone who is in this field is good enough to win. No one has any rights to walk in and play well and compete.”
Snedeker was tied for second at 9 under, alongside Mark Hubbard, and said the position felt familiar in the best way. “It feels good. That's why I do all the work at home,” he said. “It's nice to be here, especially on a golf course I really like. I got to play here the last couple of years, and this golf course sets up for me. So excited to be here with a chance on the weekend. This is what you work for, so kind of turn the brain off tomorrow and go have some fun.”
Brooks Koepka sat 4 under after a second-round 70, leaving him in the mix as he looked for his first PGA Tour title since the 2023 PGA Championship. Koepka made four birdies and three bogeys in Friday's round. Ryan Ruffels was tied for 15th at 5 under after getting into the field by winning an event made up of golf social media influencers.
The cut line settled at 1 under, and several recognizable names missed it by a shot. Danny Willett, Johnny Keefer and Tyler Collett were all out at 1 under, while Adam Svensson missed after a 75 on Friday. Rafael Campos, Harry Higgs and Haotong Li missed at 1 over. Taylor Montgomery finished at 2 over, Aaron Wise at 4 over and Joel Dahmen at 6 over.
The tournament is being staged as an opposite-field event, separate from the main Truist Championship being played the same week. The winner takes home $720,000 and a two-year PGA Tour exemption, making the weekend at Myrtle Beach more than a side stage for the players who made it through.
