Power Rankings: Rocket Mortgage Classic
The conclusion of the Travelers Championship signified not only the end of the Signature Events but also a cadence of those weaved into two majors and other formats across the last two months. While all of it was consequential and historic, the most impactful segment of the season for many is about to begin.
Starting with this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, PGA TOUR membership is promised six opportunities of Full-Field competition in seven weeks. The stretch will include consecutive weeks with Additional Events in July and a week off for the Olympics. Then, once the winner of the Wyndham Championship is crowned on Aug. 11, the field of 70 will be set for the FedExCup Playoffs.
Detroit Golf Club hosts for the sixth time. For details on the scorer’s paradise and other intel concerning the tournament, continue reading beneath the ranking of those projected to contend.
Power Rankings
PLAYER
RANK
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
15
The defending champion is in need of more Motown magic. The victory still is his most recent top-15 finish anywhere, but he’s fresh off a T20 at TPC River Highlands where his long-range putting was effective. Also placed T12 here in 2020.
NEW ZEALAND
14
As long as he hangs with the field in manufacturing scoring opportunities, he’ll be in the mix in his debut, just as he has repeatedly in the last two months. After a slow start, the terrific putter has connected for a pair of T4s and a T7.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
13
Four appearances, four top 25s. Since his tournament debut in 2020, he’s carded a dozen sub-70s en route to a scoring average of 68.38 in Detroit. Currently 33rd on TOUR in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green with a win among four top 20s.
AUSTRALIA
12
The tournament debutant is the epitome of lurking with five straight results ranging from T21-T26. Espouses an aggressive style of play that, well, plays up at Detroit Golf Club. He’s T19 in par-5 scoring that’s also rewarded on the course.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
11
Although fully exempt, he capitalized on the opportunity to piggyback a T14 at the RBC Canadian Open with a start on the Korn Ferry Tour where he finished T2 two weeks ago. Combined five top 15s on both tours since early April.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
10
You can see all of the pieces forming into something special sooner than later. A T9 at the U.S. Open is the latest evidence of a strong, balanced bag and third top 20 in five starts. T24 here last year with a lower score in every round.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
9
There’s a divide between his video-game analytics and inconsistency over time. As often is the case, it boils down to how he fares with the putter. Relative to this field, his class is permanent and he’s rested since a T10 in Canada.
SCOTLAND
8
The lefty’s inspiring victory at the RBC Canadian Open yielded late entry into the U.S. Open where he missed the cut. He reset with a T16 at the Travelers to extend an outstanding run of five top 20s in the last two months.
SWEDEN
7
Cooled a bit since a ridiculous stretch of eight consecutive top 25s that included THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship, but he’s poised to pile onto a sparkling record in Detroit. Since 2021, he’s 2-for-2 with a T4 and a T9.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
6
After a T5 at the Travelers Championship, the 22-year-old is a career-best 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking. It’s reflective of a monster season that includes a victory (Valero Texas Open) among 10 top 25s; three straight upon arrival.
ENGLAND
5
The Brit was in position to prevail in his debut here last year but settled for a T9. His recent form mirrors that kind of execution in that he has a T4 among four top 25s during a 6-for-6 burst. One of the best ball-strikers on the planet.
CANADA
4
The recent breakthrough champion of THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson is piecing together a borderline elite season with four top 10s and another five top 25s. He’s 14th in adjusted scoring and 2-for-2 in Detroit since 2022 with a T2 and a T14.
GERMANY
3
Since holding off Scottie Scheffler to win in Houston three months ago, Jaeger has added four top 25s but none for a top 15. However, he’s one of two (Taylor Moore) with top 10s in both of the last two Rocket Mortgage Classics.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2
If he wanted proof that he’s ready to rock, a 59 in the third round at the Travelers Championship suffices. A T9 come Sunday went on the board as his sixth top 10 worldwide this year. Distant co-runner-up in only prior try here in 2022.
SOUTH KOREA
1
Hasn’t rested since launching into a nine-week road trip in early May. It’s good to be 22 with no distractions because his best golf of the trek has been the most recent. Prior to Sunday’s playoff loss, he finished T4 in Canada to open June.
No excuses. Professional athletes aren’t prone to them, anyway, but if any in the field of 156 at Detroit Golf Club can’t find his game there, he won’t find it anywhere.
For one, the stock par 72 remains unchanged. It tips at 7,370 yards and surrendered a scoring average of 69.919 a year ago. That’s officially the lowest of the first five editions, but four of the five winners scored 23-under 265 or better, so the objective is obvious – go low or go home.
The routing is a composite of the North and South Courses, but the South is represented only by the par-4 third hole. As a whole, the course has proven to be one of the easiest from tee to green, and it has been comfortably inside the easier half in putts per greens hit. So, the formula is not dissimilar to last week’s shootout at TPC River Highlands. Hit greens and sink putts.
The setup is pretty much the same as it was at TPC River Highlands as well. Greens blanketed with Poa annua are smaller in size at 5,150 square feet and governed to touch 12-1/2 feet on the Stimpmeter. The lushest of the rough is four inches, but even guys who are in it more often than others might feel a reprieve given how the track caters to improved accuracy.
Primarily calm and comfortable weather is on tap for the first full week of summer in Motown. The outlier is scheduled for Saturday’s third round for which rain, storms and a spike in temperature (into the mid-80s) are forecast. Otherwise, comfortable air will be accompanied by gentle breezes.
ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE
MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY*: Sleepers
WEDNESDAY: Golfbet Insider
SUNDAY: Points and Payouts; Medical Extensions; Qualifiers; Reshuffle
* Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.
Rob Bolton is a Golfbet columnist for the PGA TOUR. The Chicagoland native has been playing fantasy golf since 1994, so he was just waiting for the Internet to catch up with him. Follow Rob Bolton on