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PGA Tour: Davis Thompson two ahead of Aaron Rai going into John Deere Classic final round | Golf News

On: July 7, 2024 By: admin

American Davis Thompson fired nine birdies in a third-round 62 to take a two-shot lead into the final day of the John Deere Classic.

Soft conditions on the TPC Deere Run in Illinois continued to bring low scores, Thompson moving to 21 under par – two clear of England’s Aaron Rai and fellow American Eric Cole.

“I guess it was just my day today,” said Thompson, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory. “The guys behind me are playing really well.

“I know it’s going to be tough to finish off a golf tournament, but I’ve done it before. I just have to stay present-minded.”

With the final day being played in threesomes with a delayed start in a bid to beat storms, Rai, co-leader after the second round, will play in the last group for the second successive week.

He had six birdies in a round of 66 as he bids to go one better than his second place at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.

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Hayden Springer, who shot a 59 on the opening day, is a further two strokes back on 17 under par after a 66, alongside Taiwan’s CT Pan.

Rookie Michael Thorbjohnsen and amateur Luke Clanton are among those on 16 under par, while a third-round 70 saw England’s Harry Hall tumble down the leaderboard to seven shots adrift.

Watch the final round of the John Deere Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Sunday.

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PGA Tour: England’s Aaron Rai shares halfway lead at John Deere Classic with Harry Hall one back | Golf News

On: July 6, 2024 By: admin

England’s Aaron Rai shares the lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic with countryman Harry Hall just a shot further back.

Rai – who topped the leaderboard going into the final round of last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic before eventually finishing in a tie for second behind Cameron Davis – shot a bogey-free, eight-under 63 in Illinois on Friday to rise to 14 under for the event.

CT Pan matched Rai’s efforts on the day – the Taiwanese player’s blemish-free round featured a 100-foot chip for eagle at the 14th – and he is locked with the Englishman at the head of the field.

The pair are one stroke clear of Hall, who shot a five-under 66, and two better off than a group of six players on 12 under, including Hayden Springer and Sungjae Im.

Springer carded a 59 in his opening round but had to settle for an even-par 71 a day later as he missed a three-foot par putt and also carded a double-bogey late on at TPC Deere Run.

He said: “It wasn’t too bad. It was a little windier today, probably played a little tougher.

“I kind of hit some bumps on the back nine but more just mental errors and not making those short putts than anything else.”

Rai continues fine form

Rai, Hall and Springer are each looking to land their first PGA Tour titles, although Rai has won twice on the DP World Tour, including at the 2020 Scottish Open when he beat Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off.

Rai said: “I’ve been playing well tee-to-green for large parts of this season and that’s kind of continued over the last few weeks.

“A couple of weeks ago I spent quite a while on the green. My dad gave me a couple of tips.

“I’ve started working with John Graham as well, a putting coach who is based out here. Putting all that together has definitely translated onto the course.”

Two-time John Deere Classic champion Jordan Spieth notched two late birdies to make the cut with a four-under 67 but is eight shots adrift heading into the weekend at six under par.

The 2013 and 2015 winner said: “We had yesterday morning with no wind and a chance to really take advantage.

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“I had 18 holes of a couple under yesterday, and unless you’re absolutely perfect from there, there is not much of a chance of winning.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t go out and try and shoot 10 under the next day.”

Watch the third round of the John Deere Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 5pm on Saturday. Coverage of the final round then begins at 5pm on Sunday.

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PGA Tour: Akshay Bhatia and Aaron Rai keep lead at tight Rocket Mortgage Classic | Golf News

On: June 30, 2024 By: admin

Akshay Bhatia and England’s Aaron Rai shot four-under-par 68s to remain co-leaders through the third round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Saturday in Detroit.

American Bhatia and Rai began the round sharing the lead, but the overall leaderboard has tightened. Rai had five birdies and a bogey, while Bahatia navigated his third consecutive round without a bogey.

They are both at 17-under 199 going into Sunday’s final round.

Cameron Young (67), who birdied three of his last five holes, and Australia’s Cam Davis (66), who had birdies on three of his first four holes and completed a bogey-free round, are one shot back at 16 under.

Sam Stevens (66), who birdied the final two holes, and South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen (68), who did not register a bogey, are at 15 under.

Amateur Luke Clanton (65), Joel Dahmen (68) and Australia’s Min Woo Lee (66) are tied for seventh at 14 under. Clanton climbed to a share of second place by the time he finished his third round before others took advantage of scoring chances in the early evening.

“It’s my first PGA Tour event and to be in contention where I’m at right now is awesome,” Clanton said.

Clanton, a 20-year-old Florida State golfer, played earlier in the month in the US Open, making the cut and tying for 41st place. On Saturday, he eagled the par-five 14th hole, just two holes after his only bogey of the round.

Defending champion Rickie Fowler shot 67 and moved to 11 under. The start of the third round had a significant delay and tee times were revised, with golfers using the first and 10th tees as starting spots.

Will Zalatoris, citing a back injury, withdrew during the third round. He was seven under through the first two rounds. but three over through eight holes on Saturday before ending his round.

Watch the final round of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic live on Sky Sports Golf from 4.30pm on Sunday. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and more, without a contract, with NOW.

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