2 days Ago By Larry Lage, The Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Akshay Bhatia closed strong enough in the opening round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic that he surged atop the leaderboard, and yet he knows no lead is safe at the Detroit Golf Club. Bhatia chipped in for eagle from 83 feet on the 17th hole and ended with a birdie for an 8-under 64 Thursday, giving him a one-shot cushion that isn't comfortable. “It’s always nice to finish like that,” he said.
“This tournament’s always kind of a birdie fest, so birdies and eagles help a lot.” Ben Silverman (67) of Thornhill, Ont., was three shots back and Roger Sloan (68) of Merritt, B.
C., was four strokes off the lead. Tony Finau set the tournament record, winning at 26 under two years ago, and Rickie Fowler needed to win in a playoff last year when 24 under wasn't good enough through 72 holes.
The 22-year-old Bhatia, the Texas Open winner in April for his second PGA Tour title, was 6 under over his last six holes in the first round. He tied for fifth last week in Connecticut, where he was in the final group that was disrupted by climate protesters storming the 18th green. Taylor Montgomery and Michael Kim were a stroke back.
Montgomery had a 6-under 30 on his front nine and added one more birdie on the back in a bogey-free round. He was pleasantly surprised by his performance, playing for the first time since withdrawing from the Byron Nelson in early May due to injured shoulders. “I was more nervous today than I have been on the golf course in forever just bec.
