One day away from the 4th of July, the Rocket Mortgage Classic bid farewell to 80 golfers as the 36-hole cut was made. Coming down the round’s home stretch, the important action didn’t take place at the top of the leader board. The cut fluctuated between -4 and -5 for a long time. At 5:56 EST, 16 golfers were tied for 55th spot at -5, while another 15 sat on -4, in a tie for 71st position. At that juncture, the majority of minus-fives had signed scorecards; it wasn’t a question of movement out, but of movement in. -4 wasn’t getting in, which meant that defending champion Nate Lashley was down the road. Joining him were stalwarts like Jason Day, Vijay Singh, Bubba Watson, and Patrick Reed. In the end, it was 71 golfers who moved on to the weekend. There’s more! Join us now for five things we learned on Friday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

5. Doc Redman finally played … poorly?

Kinda like the Madden jinx, or the Sports Illustrated Cover jinx, I mighta put the voodoo on Doc Redman. Prior to July 3rd, old Doc had never shot higher than 68 at the Detroit Golf Club. Even though it was just five rounds (last year and Thursday) it was a laudable streak. On day two, Redman had four bogies on his card. That’s an inconceivable number, given his previous play over 90 holes. The former Clemson golfer played off the 10th tee to start the day, and had a pair of birdies in his first four holes. He missed the 16th green and made bogey, then three-whacked the 18th green to return to even on the day. His second nine wasn’t much better. Four birdies got him to four-under, but bogies at one and nine brought him back to minus-two on the day. At the first, his second consecutive three-putt from 50 feet had to grind his gears. At the ninth, a yipped five-feet putt for par ended a day to be forgotten. Despite the struggle, Redman sits at nine-under par, just three behind the leaders.

4. The leaders: Simpson and Kirk

They have this in common: each has won since the quarantine restart. Webb Simpson won at Harbor Town in June, a day after Kirk won on the Korn Ferry Tour in Florida. Each posted eight birdies on day two, but a final-hole bogey dropped Kirk out of the solo lead. Kirk has played decently from tee to green, but has saved his daily bacon with his flat stick. In contrast, Simpson has been hoganesque with the full swing, but has struggled rolling the ball. Seem like decent guys, but they won’t win. Sorry, lads.

3. The 6-pack in third

The knock on the RMC this year is strength of field. Seems a fair number of golfers who played the first three weeks of post-quarantine golf, decided to take Detroit off. Can’t imagine that they were tired. Four weeks in a row is commonplace on tour. Won’t try to determine their motives, but shame on them and bully to those who arrived at Detroit Golf Club, ready to compete. The 6-pack in a third-place tie is a mixed bag. On the first shelf, you have proven tour winners Bryson DeChambeau, Matthew Wolff, and Ryan Armour. Next come Seamus Power, Mark Hubbard, and Richy Werenski. Those fellows won in college and the amateur game, as well as minor tour victories. The top-shelf titles have eluded them thus far. Of the six, only one is an olympian (Power), so we’re going to go all in on him a bit later. Would it surprise if the winner emerges from this half-dozen? Not in the slightest.

2. Kisner

Like Bono, or Cher. Maybe not. Kevin Kisner, of the trio of first-round leaders, played the best golf on Friday. Palmetto Man had five birdies on the day, and also holed from 160 yards on the sixth for eagle. He somehow found four abandoned bogies and scooped them up, taking them home to the scoring tent, Lord knows why. Kisner’s appearance on the 2017 USA Presidents Cup side was thought to be his first of a string of international caps. It turned out to be his only one. The game he exhibited from 2016 to 2018 was world-class. Since then, he has fallen off. Perhaps he begins a comeback of sorts this week.

1. Predictions are in

Power to the people: Seamus Power claims his first tour title, in a playoff. Kevin Kisner loses in extra holes.

The old switcheroo: In an odd twist of fate, Kirk putts poorly and Simpson putts well…to save pars. Neither breaks 70 on Saturday and both fall toward 10th spot, heading into Sunday.

Guy we’re most enthused about: Matthew Wolff. Anyone need to know why? Good.

Guy we’re least enthused about: #BigBangTheory aka Bryson aka thebadone23. Guy is always in the mix, hitting inconceivable drives, yet finding ways to give shots back. Starting to get old, B.

Could come from middle of pack and win: HV3. Fresh off hosting an AJGA tournament, the golf gods give his due to Harold Varner, last in the line of Harold Varners.