Akshay Bhatia (-13) is the leader of the Rocket Mortgage once the morning shift of the second day of the PGA Tour tournament being played at the Detroit Golf Club has concluded. Bhatia, who scored 67 strokes this Friday, is no stranger, nor a newcomer, in fact he is already a winner on the American circuit and has played 95 tournaments valid for the world ranking, but sometimes we forget that he is only 22 years old. He was born in 2002. He is top 30 in the world ranking.
Neal Shipley (-9) is fully involved in the fight for victory in Detroit with 36 holes ahead. He scored 68 strokes. It is the first PGA Tour tournament he plays in his career. And yes, he is in the top 10. He was born in 2001. He turned professional just three weeks ago, after getting the Latin America card through the PGA Tour University.
Precisely, a week ago, in his first tournament in South America, the first also as a professional, he finished ninth. In addition, he has played two professional tournaments in his life, both as an amateur. One was the Masters, he made the cut and was the best amateur. And the other was the US Open, he made the cut and was the best amateur. Watch out for Shipley. In Augusta he played the last round with Tiger Woods. To say that he is living a dream is a bit of an understatement, although if this boy stands out for anything, it is for having his feet firmly on the ground.
Miles Russell (PAR) has missed the cut after signing a card of 70 strokes. Russell’s is another story. He was born in 2009. He is 15 years old. He has played two Korn Ferry Tour tournaments, before his debut on the PGA Tour in Detroit, and one of them ended up in the top 20. Despite missing the cut, this young left-hander has shown his quality, sinking a chip from outside in this second round that put him at -2, pointing directly at the goal of making the cut. He needed two more birdies, but it didn’t happen. Even so, he looks excellent. He has already played on occasion with Charlie Woods and, surely, we will see him again at the US Junior Amateur. He is trained by the Spaniard Ramón Bescansa.
Nick Dunlap is currently playing his second round, but he is also involved in the fight. He was born in 2003. Interestingly, he won the US Open Amateur where Shipley finished second. He has already won on the PGA Tour, still being an amateur. He needs no introduction. In his first year on the PGA Tour, which he accessed after winning the American Express at the beginning of the year, he is among the top 100 in the FedEx Cup just as we head into the final stretch of the season.
Nicolai Hojgaard (-8) seems to have been with us all his life. Even, he can boast of having already played (and won) the Ryder Cup. However, he is another youngster. He was born in 2001. The Dane scored 65 strokes this Friday, one of the best rounds of the day, and is high in the ranking.
These are the consequences of the 2000 effect in Detroit. Protagonists. Young people taking a step forward and ready to dominate the scene. Although there are also some illustrious veterans who are going to give their all this weekend to not give them way: Troy Merritt (-11), Eric Cole (-10) or Wesley Bryan (-9).
