Rocket Mortgage Classic

Detroit Golf Club, Michigan, USA. Detroit is the destination for the 6th time for the Rocket Mortgage Classic as the players take on the Donald Ross designed North Course in Detroit.

This is a relatively short par 72 where birdies and plenty of them are needed to contend over the weekend.

The course is usually receptive and is somewhat of a straightforward examination. The greens here represent the only minor challenge and finding the right parts of them with your approach play will provide better opportunities to make the requisite birdies.

The one takeaway from recent winners and contenders is the length they hit the ball. Finau, Cam Davis and Dechambeau are the last three winners here and it'll pay to look to those who can bomb and gauge their way to victory here.

Peter Kuest topped the driving statistic for the week when finishing 4th last year. The 3M Open is an event to look to for some pointers as Dechambeau and Wolff have posted a dual forecast in both events whilst Finau managed to win both just last year.

Both courses favour the longer hitters and that's where most of my attention will lie when looking at the betting market

Rocket Mortgage Classic Tips

 

Here are the key stats for the top finishers (including ties) in the last three renewals of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

 

Ryan Fox at 45/1 (Ten Places)

Length is by no means necessary around here but the longest hitters in the field have often made the frame here.

One of the longest in the field and extremely proficient elsewhere is Ryan Fox and he looks worthy of a bet at 50/1.

The New Zealander has hit his stride in the States this last couple of months starting with a 4th place at the Zurich alongside Garrick Higgo.

Another 4th followed at Myrtle Beach then 7th in Canada. On all these occasions Fox has putted extremely well and is one of the better performers in the field with the flat stick. Following his win at Wentworth last September where he beat a field much stronger than this one he struggled a little bit, but finally looks to have turned a corner.

Fox is capable of winning events much stronger than this and his combination of length and putting could be potent around this venue. 

1.25pt each-way R.Fox  45/1  (1/5 10) Coral, Ladbrokes

Nicolai Hojgaard at 60/1 (Eight Places)

Another in the same price bracket I am willing to include is Nicolai Hojgaard. Like Fox the Dane has produced a couple of efforts in the past year that would be good enough to win this event and there have been small signs lately that he is returning to the form of late 2023 and early 2024.

That period was exceptional pipping Fleetwood and Hovland to the DP World Tour Championship in November then kicking off the year in fine style at Torrey Pines being narrowly beaten into second by Mathieu Pavon.

Since then it has been somewhat of a struggle bar his top 20 at the Masters. He has now made the cut in the three Majors this year and his latest efforts with the irons have been decent.

16th on approach at the PGA, 25th on approach in Canada then 18th on approach at the US Open suggests Hojgaard can't be too far away from the top of his form. 21st here in Detroit on debut last year was a good return and he looks fair price to go a little better this time around.

1pt each-way N.Hojgaard  60/1  (1/5 8)

Cam Davis at 70/1 (Eight Places)

Taylor Pendrith looks an obvious choice given his record on the easier tracks together with his tee to green and putting ability, however the around the 28/1 - 33/1 mark he looks very well held and I shall not be investing at those odds.

Instead I'd much rather take a chance on course specialist Cam Davis. There is no doubt the Australian has struggled this season but a final push can get him into the season ending tournaments in the coming months.

Overall he isn't hitting the ball as far off the tee this year and his driving game has somewhat struggled compared to the force it used to be. I'm risking a smallish stake simply because of his record here and the fact he hasn't always been playing good golf in the lead in.

When he won here in 2021 he arrived with recent form of CUT-45-59. His top 20 last year was preceded by 33-CUT-CUT-CUT.

The Australian can catch fire around this place and with the likes of McNealy a third of his price I believe he is much better value than many of those towards the front end of the market. 

1pt each-way C.Davis  70/1  (1/5 8) WilliamHill, 888Sport

Jake Knapp at 125/1 (Eight Places)

I can't resist another pop at Jake Knapp considering we are getting triple figure prices again on an easy layout.

Knapp won in Mexico on 19 under par with rounds of 64 and 63 in the middle of that event. He shot the same score at the Byron Nelson last month when he struggled on the final day once again.

It wasn't plain sailing in Mexico on the final 18 but he has gotten himself into two great positions now and converted one of those.

This was all off the back of a great showing at Torrey Pines where once again he showed his prowess with the driver. Lately it has been a struggle with three missed cuts on the trot but this is his first look at Detroit GC and it could be right up his street.

He has shown himself to be a solid putter this season too which has helped him score well on the easier tracks.

Once chancing again and if he gets into contention at the weekend we will be on the lookout for those nervy drives that he has shown on a few occasions now.

0.75pt each-way J.Knapp  125/1  (1/5 8) Skybet

Bud Cauley at 180/1 (Eight Places)

Finally I'll take a chance on Bud Cauley who hasn't got a lot out of his game these last few starts but is playing better than his results suggest.

Cauley returned this year following a four year lay off with various injuries following a car accident back in 2018. Prior to that he was considered one of the more talented youngsters still yet to win on tour.

Two decent efforts on the Korn Ferry Tour on his return was followed up by a top 25 at PGA National in early March. Since then he has only made two cuts but his long game has been in decent shape throughout.

Last time out for example he was 9th on approach in Canada on day one, and 38th on day 2. The theme ever since has been a misbehaving putter largely contributing to his poor results, and there is the possibility the Poa Annua greens here level the playing field a little and he finds some form with the flat stick.

His long game is in better shape than many above him in the market so 150/1 looks worth a small bet.

0.75pt each-way B.Cauley  180/1  (1/5 8) Bet365 8 place market