Rocket Classic Leaderboard: Peter Malnati fires 61 to seize early lead at Detroit Golf Club

Peter Malnati put a difficult PGA Tour season behind him in spectacular fashion after firing a career-best 9-under 61 to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Rocket Classic.

The 39-year-old, who has missed more cuts than he has made this season, produced a bogey-free performance at Detroit Golf Club to match the tournament record and give himself an early confidence boost.

Malnati's day got off to an aggressive start after his caddie suggested leaving the driver in the bag on the opening tee.

He ignored the advice, found the fairway with driver and went on to make his first birdie of the day.

That proved to be the beginning of a remarkable stretch, with Malnati making seven birdies on the front nine before continuing his charge after the turn.

A huge 55-foot birdie putt at the 11th took him to 9 under through 13 holes and briefly raised the possibility of a sub-60 round.

He could not quite maintain that pace, but a clean card was enough to give him the outright lead.

“Even in the beginning before I knew it was going to be a special day, I didn’t feel the same level of anxiety,” said Malnati, who started the week 171st in the season-long FedEx Cup standings.

A victory this week would propel Malnati up into the top 70 make the Playoffs into a projected 68th position. 

Malnati's last of two PGA Tour titles came at the Valspar Championship in March 2024. 

The Rocket Classic has traditionally produced low scores, and Thursday was no different despite Detroit Golf Club undergoing a $16 million renovation.

The changes included turning two par 5s into par 4s and adding numerous bunkers in an attempt to restore Donald Ross' original vision for the course while making it more challenging.

Malnati, though, insisted his score was not simply the product of an easy setup.

“I don’t think I took advantage of a super easy course,” he said. “I played great.”

He will need to continue doing exactly that with several big names already lurking behind him.

Rickie Fowler and Ryan Gerard both made fast starts with 7-under 63s, leaving them two shots off the pace, while Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Fishburn opened with matching 6-under 64s.

Fowler will be particularly keen to stay in contention. The former Ryder Cup star won the Rocket Classic in 2023, which remains his most recent PGA Tour victory.

Two-time major champion Xander Schauffele also made a solid start with a 4-under 66.

Pre-tournament favourite Cameron Young, however, struggled to find the same rhythm. The World No. 3 opened with a 1-under 69 and already sits eight shots behind Malnati.

With the Rocket Classic being played for the final time, the leaderboard is already taking shape for what promises to be an intriguing weekend in Detroit.

For Malnati, however, the immediate objective is clear: turn the best round of his career into another PGA Tour victory.

Rocket Classic Round 1 Leaderboard