Damien Kayat previews the Robert Mortgage Classic coming your way from the Detroit Golf Club.
2022/2023 US PGA Tour
US PGA TOUR
Rocket Mortgage Classic
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
29th June- 2nd June
Keegan Bradley held on to win an absolute birdie bonanza at TPC River Highlands. It was a crazy week that saw both Denny McCarty and Ricky Fowler flirt with the magical 59 mark (they both ended up shooting 60’s). Rory McIlroy also managed to score his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour. And this week’s test should prove pretty similar- though with a slightly less illustrious field.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic isn’t one of the PGA Tour’s so-called ‘designated’ events. This will be just the 5th staging of the event that replaced the Quicken Loans National on the roster. This was the first PGA Tour event to be staged in Michigan since the 2009 Buick Open. Furthermore, it was the first PGA Tour event to ever be hosted in Detroit (there’s gentrification if I ever saw it).
Every single edition of this event has been hosted at the originally named Detroit Golf Club. Opened in 1916, this Donald Ross-design is a traditional parkland style venue with tree-lined fairways. It is technically a composite of the North and South Courses (though only the 3rd hole is featured from the South Course). This course was chosen to host the 1941 Ryder Cup prior to its cancellation due to World War II.
You can expect similar scoring conditions to those at TPC River Highlands last week. This is an exceptionally flat course that just invites the bombers to let loose- just look at the list of previous winners. I don’t think this one is ‘rocket’ science (excuse the awful pun). Look for big-hitters with the ability to catch fire with the flat-stick.
Defending champion Tony Finau hasn’t had a top 10 finish since winning the Mexico Championship in April. But he loves these flat, low-scoring affairs and I can easily see him in the mix this week. Two-time Major champion Collin Morikawa has been on a severe downturn in 2023. And his missed cut at TPC River Highlands doesn’t exactly fill one with confidence this week.
Comeback kid Ricky Fowler is suddenly trading alongside Justin Thomas at 14/1. Who could have possibly foreseen that six months ago? Max Homa has gone slightly quiet after a blistering start to the season saw him rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rahm and Scheffler. Elsewhere, the likes of Hideki Matsuyama and Sunjgae Im will be eyeing up their chances of more PGA Tour success this week.
Past Winners
2022: Tony Finau (-26)
2021: Cam Davies (-18) *playoff
2020: Brsyon DeChambeau (-23)
2019: Nate Lashley (-25)
Betting Favourites (To Win)
Tony Finau (12/1), Collin Morikawa (13/1), Justin Thomas (14/1), Rickie Fowler (12/1), Max Homa (18/1)
Value Bets
Taylor Moore- To Win (50/1)
I’m opting for a guy who was on fire in the early part of the season. Taylor Moore followed a trio of top 15 finishes at Torrey Pines, Pebble and TPC Scottsdale with victory at the Valspar Championship. But he heads into this week’s event after three consecutive missed cuts.
To be fair, he has never made the top 50 at either Colonial or TPC River Highlands. But he finished T6 here last week after closing rounds of 65 and 66. He also ranks 27th in strokes gained putting for the season. So, I think there’s a good chance of Moore rediscovering his form this week.
Austin Eckroat- To Win (40/1)
I’m really loving the look of 24-year-old Austin Eckroat (especially at 17/1 in the place markets). He has made seven straight cuts after a decent 24th place finish at the Travelers. The Oklahoma State alumnus rose to prominence with a T2 finish at the AT&T Byron Nelson. And he underlined his burgeoning cred with a top 10 finish at the recent US Open. He hits the ball a mile and I really think he will love this flat, exposed layout.
The Man to Beat- Harris English
Harris English looks very appealing at 35/1. The veteran has four top 10’s and seven top 25 finishes this season. This included a runner-up finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. She also has T3 at the Wells Fargo Championship in May. His class was on full display when he notched up a top 10 finish at the recent US Open. English is in the top 20 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. That could prove a huge stat in what is going to be another low-scoring event.
