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Aussie Cam Davis breathing down leaders’ necks at PGA Detroit tournament

Australia's Cam Davis showed how the game is played in Napa, California.

Australia's Cam Davis showed how the game is played in Napa, California. Photo: AP

Australia Open winner Can Davis has stunned the field by jumping more than 30 places on the leaderboard at the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit.

Back at the tournament and venue where he claimed his sole PGA Tour victory in 2021, the Australian fired a seven-under 65 on Friday to jump 30 places and move within three shots of co-leaders Taylor Moore and Taylor Pendrith.

After an opening 69, the 28-year-old Sydneysider posted nine birdies and an eagle, but mixed them with two bogeys and a double. He was in a tie for ninth at 10 under and one of many in contention.

Pendrith shot a 64 while Moore had a 67 to match him at 13-under 131.

Rickie Fowler (65) and former top-ranked amateur Ludvig Aberg (67) were a shot back after two straight solid rounds.

Davis, who tied for 14th when defending his title here last year, explained why he enjoyed the course so much.

“I mean, I love old golf courses, I love old design. I think Donald Ross courses are some of my favourites,” he said.

“I love what he’s done with flatland and just good greens. I like the way the holes are shaped out here.

“I think if you’ve got some creativity you can still make a lot of stuff happen even if you’re out of position.

“I missed the cut the first two times around here, really turned it around the year after that.

‘Love at first sight’

“So it wasn’t like it was love at first sight, honestly, but I’ve grown to really love this course now and hopefully it keeps treating me well over the weekend.”

The 34-year-old Fowler leapt into contention by chipping in for eagle from 27 feet on the par-5 17th.

Fowler set himself up with a chance to go for his first win since 2019 at the US Open two weeks ago with an opening 62 before closing with a 75 to plummet into a fifth-place tie.

“We can’t try and press too hard,” he said. “Definitely know we can win. How I’ve played is some of the best, if not the best, I’ve felt about my game and on the course really ever.”

The 23-year-old Aberg finished the season No.1 in the PGA Tour University ranking.

The Swede became the first player to go straight from college to PGA Tour membership without going through Q-school or earning enough money or points from sponsor exemptions.

He’s in his third event as a pro after tying for 25th in the Canadian Open and 24th last week in the Travelers Championship.

“I know what I’m capable of and I know that I can hit the golf shots, but you’ve got to be able to handle everything else,” Aberg said.

Collin Morikawa (67), Justin Lower (65), Aaron Rai (68), Adam Schenk (68) are at 11 under, two strokes behind the leaders.

The 29-year-old Moore won the Valspar Championship in March when he outlasted Jordan Spieth for his first PGA Tour title.

Justin Thomas, defending champion Tony Finau and Hideki Matsuyama missed the four-under cut, along with Australians Harrison Endycott (two under), Cameron Percy (one under) and Aaron Baddeley (even par).

-AAP

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