Doc Reman of the United States plays a shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club on July 2, 2020.
Doc Redman he’s hot again at the Detroit Golf Club, shooting seven of his eight birds behind nine on Thursday to take a share of the Rocket Mortgage Classic first round.
Redman, 22, was a surprise second in Detroit last year after passing qualifying on Monday’s tournament.
After a bogey in tenth place also took him for the day in the wake of a lone bird facing nine, Redman caught fire with seven birds the rest of the way for a par 65 with seven under.
“I came up with two good goals and a great finish last year at this event, which has never happened to me,” said Redman of his level of comfort on the pitch.
“I think I feel very comfortable because I’ve played well here and I’ve been here. So it’s just about playing golf and doing the best I can.”
He was tied for the first advantage with American comrades Scott Stallings is Kevin Kisner, which were also at seven o’clock below.
Argentina Emiliano Grillo and American Bryson DeChambeau were part of a group of seven golfers who ended up with six under 66.
Five-time USPGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler from the United States and Canadian Adam Hadwin are part of a large group of 14 who are two strokes away.
Redman started his turn with an airborne shot of less than one meter at 11th par. After clearing a 15 foot footer at 12, he attacked for birdies at 13, he only needed a four foot footer for birdies at 15 and rolled into an 11 to 16 footer.
After another tap-in at 5pm, he ended his round with a 15-foot downhill at the end – where the challenge for the first players was embodied by Fowler’s double bogey.
Fowler’s double bogey from a big bombing at 18 came in the middle of the round after his tenth start. It was the only mistake in a round that included seven birds, including three in a row in his inward run for his 67.
Fowler played alongside reigning champion Nate Lashley, who led the way on the road to a six-round win last year.
But Lashley started stammering on the way for a 71 year old.
Lashley said his problem wasn’t nervous, but rather he didn’t have fans present to help slide competitive juices.
“It almost seems like it’s not a golf tournament,” said Lashley. “So maybe I should get a little nervous for tomorrow and do some adrenaline.”
DeChambeau hasn’t raised a PGA trophy since 2018, but with the way it’s playing, that series may end soon.
The pre-tournament favorite, who added 20 pounds of muscle to his chassis during Covid-19’s arrest, ended with a mixed bag of an eagle, eight birds, four carts and five pars.
He started with a bird on the first hole, then killed No. 3 and made his first bogey on the fifth. He closed the top nine with two little birds followed by two more carts before finding his rut on the back nine.
“It’s fun, I’m using it to my advantage,” he said of the added weight. “There are a few holes I can really get. Even if I miss it a little bit, I still have a decent look on the green. I just have to clean up some of the half shots.”
The event is the fourth since the PGA Tour resumed play following a three-month coronavirus shutdown that began in March.
The first fan admission tournament is The Memorial, July 16-19 in Dublin, Ohio.
Scores of the main first round here Thursday in the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit (USA, unless otherwise noted):
65 – Doc Redman, Scott Stallings, Kevin Kisner
66 – Chris Stroud, Bryson DeChambeau, JJ Spaun, Chase Seiffert, Peter Malnati, Emiliano Grillo (ARG), Matt Wallace (ENG)
67 – Adam Hadwin (CAN), Rhein Gibson (AUS), Seamus Power (IRL), Henrik Norlander (SWE), George McNeill, Chris Kirk, Rickie Fowler, Hudson Swafford, James Hahn, Mark Hubbard, Lucas Glover, Johnson Wagner, Brandon Hagy, Richy Werenski
