Rocket Mortgage Classic: Matt Wallace is two shots behind leader Tony Finau after opening round | Golf News

Matt Wallace hit a 6 under par 66 at Detriot to stay within touch with the leaders after the opening round of Rocket Mortgage Classic; Tony Finau leads with Taylor Pendrith of Canada

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Rocket Mortgage Classic First Day Highlights from Detroit Golf Club

British tennis player Matt Wallace is two places behind leader Tony Finau after the opening round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detriot.

Finau remained in excellent form and shot an eight point below par 64 to draw with Canada’s Taylor Pendrith to lead the first round.

The pair had an embarrassing hit beating the course record at the Detroit Golf Club. They have a two-shot advantage over the five golfers tied in third with six under 66: Michael Thompson, Webb Simpson, Cameron Champ, Lee Hodges and Wallace, who shot seven birdies in his round.

Finau hit all 18 required greens, brushed 8 birdies, and was unharmed.

Finau said: “The ball was really good today. “I guess I hit every green, which I didn’t know until after my round. For the first time in my career, that’s great. I looked at every smallest birdie hole and got it. can get in a few.”

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An emotional Tony Finau won last week’s 3M Open and dedicates the win to his family

Finau weathered a five-and-a-half year drought between wins on the PGA Tour when he won The Northern Trust last August. Last week’s back-to-back success at the 3M Open marked his third career title.

According to the PGA Tour, Finau is the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2018 to win a tournament, and then hold at least a first-round lead the following week.

“This game is a fun game because sometimes you play well and the next week you’re a bit off, sometimes you play well and you keep going,” Finau said. “It’s great that it continues after last week and continues it to today.”

Pendrith, meanwhile, ranks 237th in the Official World Golf Ranking and is looking for her first win on the tour. He led the Butterfield Bermuda Championship last October after the second and third rounds before the final round 76 left him tied in fifth.

Luke Donald in action in Detroit

A big draw with 14 players at 5 under 67 includes Zach Johnson and Si Woo Kim of South Korea among its notable names.

Mark Hubbard made a hole in one on par-three 11 on his way to four under 68. He dropped his club at the top of his track, believing he had hit a poor shot.

“Honestly, it’s pretty embarrassing,” Hubbard said. “I don’t know where the ball is going today. … I just feel really stuck and I think it’s going to be in the right direction of the green. I looked up and it was a perfect draw on one.” yards. [Playing partner Wyndham Clark] In fact, as soon as I let go, he was like, Dude, better not come in, but sure enough that it landed and dripped like a bat. “

England’s Luke Donald, who is tipped to become the new captain of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup on Thursday, shot two under 70s. He had a big draw in 53rd place with starring Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris and Gary Woodland.

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