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

England's Aaron Rai credited the work he has done with his new putting coach after he surged into contention at the halfway stage of the John Deere Classic. 

Rai opened the PGA Tour event on Thursday with a six-under 65 at TPC Deere Run and went three better on Friday with a bogey-free 63. 

The Englishman is searching for his maiden win on the North American circuit and has been in solid form all season. 

The 29-year-old has only missed five cuts thus far from 18 events he has entered. 

"Feel like been playing well tee to green for large parts of this season," Rai told reporters on Friday after tying for the lead with CT Pan on 14-under. 

"That's kind of continued over the last few weeks. 

"I feel in a really good place off the golf course.

"And then couple weeks ago I spent quite a while on the greens. 

"My dad [his first coach] gave me a couple tips. 

"[Then I] started working with John Graham last week as well, a putting coach who is based out here. 

"That's really helped to just gel things together on the greens.

"So, yeah, putting all that together has definitely translated to on the course."

Elsewhere, Eric Cole, Davis Thompson, Denny McCarthy, and Adam Svensson are inside the top-10. 

Hayden Springer, who carded an historic 12-under 59 on the opening day, was yet to begin his second round when Rai finished. 

The highest-profile player in the field, Jordan Spieth, was facing a battle to make the cut. 

Spieth hit the headlines earlier in the week for somewhat spilling the beans when he was asked a question about the LIV Golf peace deal. 

Read more about that here.

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