Aaron Rai takes a one-shot lead in his Myrtle Beach debut
MYRTLE BEACH, S. C. (AP) — Aaron Rai handled the tougher pins and made four birdies on his inward nine Friday for a 4-under 67, giving him a one-shot lead over Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker and Mark Hubbard in the Myrtle Beach Classic.
Rai thought the Dunes Golf & Beach Club looked great on television when he watched Chris Gotterup win it two years ago, and he figured it would be a good place to play ahead of the PGA Championship next week. He spent two days with Brooks Koepka, who shot 70 and was six shots behind, and has found the course to be to his liking. “It’s been a lovely environment to play in actually the first two days,” Rai said.
“I think being in a group with Brooks Koepka, Davis Thompson, who are both very good players ... obviously Brooks is one of the best players in the world. So it’s created a great atmosphere to play in.
” Rai, who has one PGA Tour victory, was at 10-under 132. Snedeker, who will lead the Americans at Medinah in September, played bogey-free in a moderate breeze to post a 66. Hubbard shot 67 by overcoming some early mistakes to run off four straight birdies around the turn.
Koepka was trying to keep up with Rai until he went from the trees into a water hazard on the par-5 fifth hole and made bogey. Myrtle Beach is an opposite-field event, but the winner still gets into the PGA Championship next week if he is not already eligible. Rai received a special invitation based on his world ranking.