Rocket Mortgage Classic

Detroit is the destination for the 7th 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 three of the last four 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 in 2023. 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

Below is a look at the stats of the top performers from the last four editions of this tournament.

 

Rocket Mortgage Classic Tips

 

 

Tony Finau at 40/1 (Six Places)

A return to Detroit Golf Club may just have come at the perfect time for Tony Finau and he's on my staking plan this week at anything towards the 40/1 mark. Finau was the runaway victor here back in 2022 beating Cantlay into second by a mere five shots.

There is no doubt 2025 has been a struggle but if Finau is to make the Ryder Cup squad in a few months time then he better get moving fast and this represents a big chance in one of the weakest fields he will see between now and then to capitalise upon.

His game off the tee hasn't been the best in his last two outings but he can smack it round here and not worry too much about punishment if he strays a lot with the driver. Instead we can look to his stellar approach play of late that should translate really well here to Detroit once again.

Ryder Cup years have a habit of throwing up a winner in the lead in struggling a little for some form and Finau is one bubbling underneath the surface who looks to have a really good week in him soon.

1.5pts each-way T.Finau  40/1  (1/5 6) General

Davis Thompson at 50/1 (Six Places)

For a month or so now Davis Thompson has been hitting the ball really well off the tee but the rest of his game has really struggled and it has resulted in three missed cuts in four. Two of those were in  tough Major Championships though so we can forgive it a little.

Any improvement in other parts of his game would be important and we saw that last week at the Travelers where he finished 25th after the four days.

He ranked 3rd for the week in strokes gained tee to green and was 2nd in the field with his approach play. 65th of 66 on the greens ruined what could have been a really tremendous week for him.

Thompson finished runner up at the American Express on a total of 26 under par whilst his only victory to date came at the John Deere Classic where he ran out a 4 shot victor shooting 28 under par across the four days at Deere Run.

Add in a runner up here at this track last year on 17 under par and we can conclude he loves a birdie fest. The signs last week were really positive and you'd be foolish not to have a punt on him here in Detroit. 

1.5pts each-way D.Thompson  50/1  (1/5 6) Paddypower, Skybet, PricedUp

Alex Smalley at 60/1 (Six Places)

Both long and accurate off the tee Alex Smalley enters the equation here and with his iron play in really good nick he must be included.

He ranked 9th in strokes gained approach last time out in Canada and by and large has been really consistent in that department in the last month or so and although he has a poor record here in Detroit to date I expect him to go a fair bit better this time around.

He missed the cut here last year but that was following a weekend off at the PGA then a withdrawal the following week at Colonial.

 

This time around he comes here in much better form having finished 5th at Myrtle Beach and 13th at the Canadian Open.

If Smalley is to land a maiden victory this season it will more than likely come on a birdie fest golf course that suits the bigger hitters. Detroit is one of those and he's worth the risk here at 50/1 or above. 

1pt each-way A.Smalley  60/1  (1/5 6) Unibet, Bet MGM

Kurt Kitayama at 66/1 (Eight Places)

My final bet of the week will be on Kurt Kitayama who has been playing some really decent golf lately with not enough reward. 5th at the Bryson Nelson where he shot 17 under par is the best at his been lately with 22nd at Colonial another solid result.

Missed cuts have come at the PGA Championship and the Canadian Open but both those poor weeks have all been down to a misbehaving putter. He was 3rd on approach on day one of the PGA where he didn't make the weekend.

He is bubbling nicely and hits the ball a mile off the tee which helps here around Detroit. His approach play from 100-150 yards is really dialed in currently whilst he's high up the birdie or better percentages as well. This looks like the perfect course coming at a time where he looks dangerous and he looks a lovely bet around the 66/1 mark. 

1pt each-way K.Kitayama  66/1  (1/5 8) WilliamHill