Rocket Classic Preview and Picks

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🏌️‍♂️ A Breather Before the Stretch Run

After a whirlwind seven-week stretch packed with majors and signature events, the PGA Tour takes a collective breath in Detroit this week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. While the season winds down, the stakes remain high—players are vying for crucial FedEx Cup points and fighting to retain their PGA Tour cards heading into 2026.

With a relatively open field and a forgiving course ripe for birdies, the Rocket Classic is shaping up to be a proving ground for rising stars, fringe contenders, and a few battle-tested names trying to sharpen their form ahead of the final push.

🏆 Rocket Classic Field: Depth Without Dominance

This year’s Rocket Classic field includes:

• 44 of the top 100 and 11 of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

• Headliners include #5 Collin Morikawa, #7 Keegan Bradley, #12 Hideki Matsuyama, #20 Patrick Cantlay, and defending champion Cam Davis.

• 5 players in the top 25 of the FedEx standings are teeing it up.

• Three past winners—Cam Davis (2021, 2024), Rickie Fowler (2023), and Nate Lashley (2019)—return to a venue that has favored both bombers and precision players alike.

While some big names like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are sitting this one out, the field is competitive, hungry, and primed for a low-scoring shootout.

📊 Data-Driven Insights for Fantasy & Betting

If you’re serious about making the best picks this week, our GolfStats tools have you covered.

• Our Performance Chart ranks players by their average finish of all players at the Rocket Classic, helping you identify those who consistently contend.

• Our GolfStats Custom Formula highlights the best performers at this event over the last five years, factoring in course history and key stats.

• Our Sortable 8-Year Glance lets you track trends, breakout performances, and potential sleepers at the Rocket Classic.

These tools are invaluable whether you’re betting, setting a DFS lineup, or simply looking for an edge in your fantasy league. Check out the full blog post for DK fantasy advice.

⛳ What’s Next Around the Tour

The next few weeks are pivotal for many pros. The Scottish Open and The Open Championship loom, followed by the 3M and Wyndham Championships before the FedEx Cup Playoffs begin.

Recent Highlights:

• Scottie Scheffler: Though his 2025 hasn’t matched the insane heights of 2024 (9 wins), he’s quietly posted three wins including a PGA Championship title, with consistent top-10s at majors and signature events. His season began late due to a holiday injury, but he’s rounding into form.

• Rory McIlroy: After his long-awaited Masters win, many expected a historic run. But he’s cooled off, with lackluster showings in recent events and signs of mental fatigue. All eyes will be on him at Royal Portrush—his home Open—where redemption is the storyline after a missed cut in 2019.

The Rise (and Resurrection) of Golf in Detroit

The Rocket Classic is more than just another stop on the calendar—it’s a story of revival.

Detroit lost its PGA Tour presence when the Buick Open ended in 2009 amid the auto industry’s collapse. But through years of planning, club renovations, and a key sponsorship from Quicken Loans, the tournament returned in 2019, this time hosted at Detroit Golf Club—a Donald Ross gem with deep roots in golf history.

This year marks the seventh edition of the Rocket Classic, which has quickly become a fan favorite, routinely selling out and raising millions for charity. During the pandemic year of 2020, the tournament pressed forward without fans and still generated over $2.7 million for Detroit charities, including digital literacy initiatives.

A $16.1 million renovation will begin after this year’s event, aimed at restoring the greens to their original Donald Ross character in time for the 2026 edition.

Detroit Golf Club: Tree-Lined, Birdie-Friendly, and Due for a Facelift

• Par 72, 7,370 yards

• 17 holes from the North Course, 1 hole from the South

• Tight, tree-lined fairways, but generous enough to reward good driving

• Small greens (average 5,500 sq ft), many raised with tiered undulations

• 87 bunkers and strategic rough penalize errant shots

• Course condition: Rainy June has left it soft with thick rough. Expect the ball to sit down in the first cut.

Though it challenges players in spots, Detroit Golf Club is largely a birdie fest. The winning formula? Hit fairways, stick your irons close, make putts, and cash in on scoring chances. Weather forecasts point to hot, steamy days with possible thunderstorms early in the tournament, potentially softening the course further.

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 Key Stats for Success at Detroit Golf Club

Detroit Golf Club may not be one of the most punishing layouts on the PGA Tour, but it has a distinct identity. The Donald Ross design features generous tree-lined fairways, small undulating greens, and a scoring environment that encourages aggression—but only for those who execute precisely. Historically, the course plays on the easier side, with an average score nearly two strokes under par and a layout that ranks among the most birdie-friendly on Tour. With soft conditions expected again this year due to rain earlier in the week, scoring should be low, but certain statistical trends have consistently separated contenders from the rest of the field.

Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green is the most predictive metric at Detroit. It reflects a player’s total command from the tee box through their approach shots—key at a course where driving it long and straight sets up manageable approaches into small targets. Past winners like Cam Davis (2024), Tony Finau (2022), and Rickie Fowler (2023) all ranked in the top five in this category during their victories. While Detroit isn’t overly penal off the tee, its rough can be thick and its bunkers well-placed. Pair that with elevated and tiered greens, and precision becomes more valuable than brute strength. Players who can control their ball flight and consistently find greens will be rewarded.

Scrambling is another essential skill, especially given the nature of Ross’s raised green complexes. Miss a green, and you’re often left with a delicate pitch from tight lies or thick rough. Over the years, players who’ve handled these situations effectively—like Nate Lashley (2019) and Cam Davis—have gained an edge by saving pars and keeping bogeys off the card. The course isn’t overly long, but its subtle defenses make it challenging around the greens. This stat is especially important for players who aren’t elite iron players but can grind out scores with crafty short games.

Strokes Gained Putting, particularly inside 10 feet, has also proven critical. While the greens at Detroit are smooth and relatively pure, their contours demand touch and confidence. The best putters often rise to the top here, as evidenced by Bryson DeChambeau’s 2020 win (1st in SG: Putting) and Rickie Fowler’s 2023 triumph (top 5 in putting average). Detroit routinely ranks high in putting make percentages inside 10 feet, but in a tournament where birdies are plentiful, converting those short chances is non-negotiable. Three-putt avoidance is also a silent killer—winners tend to avoid giving back what they’ve gained.

Lastly, Par Breakers—a measure of total birdies and eagles—are a defining stat for success in Detroit. The Rocket Classic is a certified birdie-fest. In each of the last five editions, the winner has ranked near the top in this category. Cam Davis was T-1st in birdies last year, while Finau and Lashley both posted over 38% of holes played under par during their winning weeks. With multiple reachable par 5s and soft conditions again this year, players must go low—think mid- to high-20s under par—to have a realistic shot at winning.

While Detroit Golf Club may look gettable on paper, it still demands discipline. Players who excel in ball striking, convert their chances on the greens, and scramble effectively when needed will be the ones hoisting the trophy on Sunday. As always, patience and precision remain the Ross hallmarks—and the keys to unlocking a win in Motown.

Checkout the full Composite Rankings on GolfStats.com. (Golf IQ subscription required).

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