Aaron Rai credits new coach after superb start at John Deere Classic

England’s Aaron Rai has made a significant move up the leaderboard after the second round of the John Deere Classic, held at TPC Deere Run. Rai, who has been displaying consistent form throughout the season, delivered an impressive bogey-free 63 on Friday, following his opening round of 65. This performance propelled him into a tie for the lead at 14-under alongside CT Pan.

Rai, who is on the hunt for his first win on the PGA Tour in North America, attributed his strong showing to recent improvements in his putting. The 29-year-old, who has missed just five cuts out of 18 events this season, credited his father, his first coach, and new putting coach John Graham for his progress on the greens.

“I’ve felt that my game has been strong from tee to green for much of the season,” Rai told reporters on Friday. “This has been consistent over the past few weeks, and I’m in a good place off the course as well. A couple of weeks ago, I spent considerable time working on my putting. My dad gave me some tips, and I recently started working with John Graham, a putting coach based here. This has really helped bring everything together on the greens, and it’s translating well to my on-course performance.”

Elsewhere in the tournament, Eric Cole, Davis Thompson, Denny McCarthy, and Adam Svensson are also inside the top-10, showcasing strong performances. Hayden Springer, who made headlines with an historic 12-under 59 in the first round, had yet to start his second round when Rai finished his.

Meanwhile, the highest-profile player in the field, Jordan Spieth, faced a challenge to make the cut. Spieth, who attracted attention earlier in the week for his comments on the LIV Golf peace deal, is battling to stay in the competition.

With two rounds remaining, the John Deere Classic promises to deliver more exciting golf, as players continue to compete for the title at TPC Deere Run.