If, like us, sitting down on a Sunday night watching the PGA Tour is now a welcomed weekly occurrence, then this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic is another date for the dairy.
With recent weather impacting the Travelers and RBC Heritage, it is hoped that the four days go unaffected in Detroit and we can get to bed at a sensible time!
The Course
The Detroit Golf Club is currently the oldest venue on the tour. Accuracy off the tee is key yet can reward players willing to take it on. The Par 5 fourth hole which measures at 635 yards is reachable in two shots.
Birdies are achievable on the back nine but key to this will be plotting your way round and navigating the pin positions, especially on the Par 3 15th.
The Players
Nate Lashley won this event by six shots back in 2019 and is back to defend his title but will face a stiff test. With players such as Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Webb Simpson planning to tee off on Thursday, he won’t have everything his own way.
Both Simpson and DeChambeau come into the tournament in good form. Simpson won at the RBC Heritage by a shot and DeChambeau’s recent transformation has allowed him to hit some devastating drives including nearly driving the TPC Rivers Highlands 389-yard ninth hole. That suggests both can’t be ruled out.
Patrick Reed is another player who despite a respectable T7 in the Charles Schwab Challenge hasn’t set the world alight in his last two performance yet has managed to maintain his 5th FEDEXCUP Cup rank. He is currently 387 points behind and a positive performance in Detroit will help distance himself from the likes of Brendon Todd and Daniel Berger who are hot on his heels.
For a slight outsider, have a look at Lucas Glover. He missed the cut in his two previous tournaments prior to the cancellation of golf. Since then he has managed three respectable Top 25 finishes each time improving his position. If he could string all four days together, he could be in the mix come Sunday evening.
