England's Rai shares lead at Rocket Mortgage Classic

Rocket Mortgage Classic leaderboard

-13 Bhatia (US), Rai (Eng); -11 Montgomery (US), Merritt (US), Young (US), Van Rooyen (SA)

Selected others: -8 Hojgaard (Den); -7 Skinns (Eng); -6 Fowler (US); -5 Tarren (Eng); -4 Hall (Eng)

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England's Aaron Rai shot a seven-under-par 65 to take a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

The 29-year-old carded seven birdies to draw level with American Akshay Bhatia on 13 under and the duo are two shots clear of the field in Detroit.

Rai, who has had two career wins on the DP World Tour, birdied four out of five holes from the seventh and finished his round with two further birdies.

"There's nothing in particular that I've really tried to change this year," said Rai, who has seven top 25s on the PGA Tour in 2024.

"I think I have built good foundations off previous years and have just tried to stay on top of the fundamentals."

Rai, from Wolverhampton, and Bhatia are being chased by a pack of four players who are tied on 11 under going into the third round - South Africa's Erik van Rooyen and American trio Cameron Young, Taylor Montgomery and Troy Merritt.

Rickie Fowler, the 2023 champion, is on six under following an even-par 72 in his second round.

Three other Englishmen, David Skinns, Callum Tarren and Harry Hall, all made the four-under cut.