Aaron Rai shot a 4-under 67 on Friday at the Myrtle Beach Classic and took a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker and Mark Hubbard. Rai was at 10-under 132 after two rounds, while Snedeker followed a bogey-free 66 and Hubbard carded a 67.
Brooks Koepka shot 70 and was six shots behind Rai after a costly bogey on the par-5 fifth, where he went from the trees into a water hazard. The cut at the opposite-field event came at even par, leaving nine players who missed the weekend with a PGA Championship spot next week at Aronimink still in reach if the winner is not already eligible.
Rai arrived on a special invitation based on his world ranking and was the only player from the top 50 at Myrtle Beach. The 45-year-old has spent two days in a group with Koepka and Davis Thompson, and he said it had been a lovely environment through the first two rounds.
He said playing with Koepka and Thompson, both very good players, helped create a great atmosphere, and added that there is no divine right in golf no matter the ranking. Everyone starts on the same playing field on Thursday, Rai said, and everyone in the field is good enough to win.
Snedeker, the Presidents Cup captain who will lead the Americans at Medinah in September, said the course sets up for him and that he is excited to have a chance on the weekend. The course is not considered a fit for power players, which has opened the door for him at a time when he remains among the more recognizable names left in the field.
Hubbard, meanwhile, said it had been a weird week but that he was pleased with how he has played and carried himself. He said his attitude has been better and that he has been playing a little more freely than he had over the past couple of months, adding that was what eventually paid off.
Two years ago, Chris Gotterup won the event at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club. This time, Rai takes the pga tour leaderboard into the weekend with the field still chasing both the title and the final path into next week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink.
