The 2020 PGA Tour continues this week as we head to the Detroit Golf Club for the annual Rocket Mortgage Classic. As usual, we have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the event, which gets underway on Thursday night (AEST) and continues throughout the weekend.
Rocket Mortgage Classic Betting Tips
After three weeks of star studded fields in the return of the PGA Tour from the COVID-19 break, this week will act as a rest period for many of the top players in the world. Just three of the top 10 players in the world will suit up in Detroit this week as players get a much needed break before The Memorial in a few weeks’ time.
The Field
Bryson DeChambeau, Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed will be the three top 10 ranked players in attendance this week with all three sitting atop the betting markets. Other big names who will be suiting up include the likes of Hideki Matsuyama, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Jason day, and rookies Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff.
Simpson currently sits atop the FedEx Cup standings and this will be a great opportunity to put some distance between himself and Justin Thomas, who sits just 40 points behind him and who will not be playing this week. Sungjae Im is currently in third place in the standings and will be playing this weekend alongside 5th place Patrick Reed, both of whom can jump into first with a win in Detroit.
Last season marked the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic, which was won by Nate Lashley. The 37-year-old will be back to defend his title this year, and currently sits way down the betting markets at $126.
The Course
Detroit Golf Club will host the event for the second time this year. The Course plays at just over 7,300 yards as a Par 72 and opened more than 100 years ago. It underwent a upgrade in 2019 to prepare for the first Rocket Mortgage Classic last season, but the work done proved to be insufficient as the -5 cut line was the lowest of any event on tour last year.
Lashley won with a beastly score of 25 under par last season. Organisers have promised longer roughs and skinnier faiways this season in an attempt to make the golf course more competitive, however, we think that a score in the high teens or low twenties under par will likely win this event once again.
DGC’s main defence is its small and tricky-to-hit greens. Ball striking both off the tee and on approach will be at a premium this week, especially if the rough will indeed be lengthened.
Key Stats to Target:
-GIR Percentage
-Shots Gained on Approach
-Shots Gained Tee-to-Green
Power Rankings
1. Bryson DeChambeau ($7.00 at Sportsbet) Best Bet
How can you look past the big fella this weekend after the restart to the PGA Tour he has had so far. Fatigue might be the only worrying factor in Bryson’s game at the moment as he lines up for his fourth straight tournament. Throughout the three events since the season resumed, DeChambeau has placed 3rd at the Charles Schwab Challenge, 8th at the RBC Heritage and 6th at the Travelers Championship. He has been right in the mix after 36 holes in all three events.
2. Viktor Hovland ($19 at Sportsbet)
The rookie was in stellar form at the Travelers last week, finishing T11 and making it three straight top 25 finishes since the tour resumed. He too will be making his fourth start in a row, but for a 22-year-old, we aren’t worried too much about this. Had a strong outing at the Rocket Mortgage last season, finishing 13th and ranks well in all of our key statistics.
3. Tyrrell Hatton ($17 at Sportsbet)
The Englishman made his return to the tour last weekend at the RBC Heritage and had a great outing, finishing 3rd overall, staying in contention until the final few holes. We haven’t had a great deal of exposure to Hatton in the past few months, but through five PGA Tour events this season, his form reads T6, T14, 1st (Arnold Palmer Inv.) and T3. You have to respect that.
4. Webb Simpson ($13 at Sportsbet)
Simpson was planning on playing at the Travelers last week but was one of five players to drop out due to COVID-19 related concerns. Thankfully, both Webb and his entire family have tested negative and the No.6 player in the world will be back in action this week. Simpson is just a few weeks removed from a great win at Harbour Town and ranks 4th overall in SG: Approach, 13th overall in SG: Tee-to-Green and 12th overall in GIR Percentage.
5. Patrick Reed ($17 at Sportsbet)
It’s tough to find a golf course that Patrick Reed hasn’t played well on at some stage throughout his career. We thought we might have him here, as the Rocket Mortgage Classic is only a year old, but Reed was great in last year’s event, finishing 5th overall with four scores under par and a -17 finishing score. Reed finished 7th in the Charles Schwab Challenge a few weeks ago and after missing the cut at the RBC, bounced back with a top 25 finish at the Travelers. Can never rule Reed out.
Dark Horses
- Rory Sabbatini ($46 at Sportsbet) Finished 3rd at DGC last season and has had a couple of strong finishes since the resumption of the PGA Tour with a 14th at the Charles Schwab and a 21st at the RBC.
- Doc Redman ($46 at Sportsbet) Finished 2nd at DGC last seaosn and has improved his placing in all three PGA Tour events since the resumption of the season. 58th at Charles Schwab, 21st at RBC and 11th at Travelers.
- Wes Roach ($126) Finished 3rd at DGC last season and has played just one event since the resumption of the PGA Tour season, a fifth place finish at the RBC Heritage. Worth a bet to make the cut.
