Rocket Mortgage Classic and Player Preview

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Man, last week was so bad for the main slate content including bets but we kind of brought it back over the weekend in the Showdown. I knew the field was bad but of course I took Hideki to win the watered-down field instead of Finau and it bit me. Now we move onto this week for the Rocket Mortgage Classic where the field is a bit better than last week, and we get another week of high scoring rounds. Let’s move on to the course preview where we will see how it all sets up and the stats we need to look at.

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Course Preview

This week we move to Detroit Michigan to play at the Detroit Golf Club which would be the third time this course has held the Rocket Mortgage Classic and we are back for the fourth year. We once again have an easy scoring week where we will see the winner eclipse -20 and beyond. This course plays as a 7,370-yard par 72 with the standard four par 5’s four par 3’s and ten par 4’s. All par 5’s, besides one hole, are reachable in two by all golfers in the field. We also have multiple par 4’s under 400 yards making them easy holes to score on and then we also have two of the par 3’s under 170 yards. This course is going to come down to a putting contest which is never fun to predict because that stat is volatile. You would think because Bryson and Matthew Wolff have done well here that bombers take over this course but that is far from the truth as plodders have just as much chance at winning as the bombers. This course is very easy with no water hazards on every hole, like we saw last week, and the fairways are pretty wide. We will need to find the best players with short irons and also with the putter on this Bent/Poa blend so let’s get into the research and find our edges.

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Stats I am Looking at

• SG: APP
• Good drives gained
• SG: P
• Prox 100-125 and 125-150
• Par 5 scoring
• Par 4 scoring <400
• BoB gained on easy scoring conditions

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Player Breakdown

Tony Finau (Cash/GPP) $10,600

I know he will more than likely be chalky this week because of his win last week, but I like him the most out of this range. None of these golfers up here really play well at Donald Ross designed courses, but Finau is the best one. He lines up 11^th in my model this week. His proximity from the distances I’m looking at is what worries me about him though.

Max Homa (Cash/GPP) $9,900

Honestly, he could be $10k this week and I really wouldn’t think twice about it. I like him this week and comes in 2^nd in my overall model and the worst stat for him this week is prox from 125-150 and he still comes in top 40 in the field. He is a great scorer, and his putter is nice as well so I might go heavy.

Cameron Young (GPP) $10,100

My play in the $10k range is Finau as mentioned above but this kid has some crazy talent. My concern is he seems to show up more at a little more difficult courses, but he has shown he can score. Never has played here or at comp courses but that hasn’t affected him in the past.

Cameron Davis (Cash/GPP) $9,700

He might honestly be one of the chalkiest golfers on the entire slate and I am still here for it. We all know he can score in bunches and comes in Number 1 in my overall model. He is not a terrible putter and also plays the comp courses well along with winning here last year.

Adam Scott (Cash/GPP) $9,300

He has some pretty decent form as of late and like playing on Donald Ross courses. I don’t love him this week, but he should make the cut and give himself an opportunity to have a great week. Also is a good putter so if it comes down to a putting contest, he can be good.

Kevin Kisner (Cash/GPP) $9,100

He is not a bomber at all and just is a plodder who is very accurate. This course is great for him as we see with his previous times played here along with doing very well on the comp courses. I know he is expensive, but he should pay off this price tag this week.

Davis Riley (Cash/GPP) $8,600

It is just a matter of time until he wins a tournament like this and maybe he does it here. He is a great golfer who can score and has shown he can play well in PGA events.

Cameron Tringale (GPP) $8,500

Plays well at this tournament but does not really play the comp courses well. Stats are kind of mediocre but he once a guy we were playing weekly.

Adam Hadwin (GPP) $8,400

Maybe one day I will learn but this is not that week. I always like Hadwin and if we get into a putting contest, I think he can do well this week. He has lost strokes putting lately but is a good putter so I’m willing to bank on him again.

Webb Simpson (Cash/GPP) $8,300

As chalky as he will be this week you really cannot overlook him in this spot. Has an 8^th place finish at this course and Wyndham is a comp course which Webb absolutely smashes.

Russell Henley (Cash/GPP) $8,200

He is one of my guys that I absolutely love playing because I think he is a great golfer. His irons are awesome, and he is good off the tee usually. Comes in 5^th in my model mainly due to his irons and proximity.

Chris Kirk (Cash/GPP) $7,800

Might be one of my top plays on the week. The putter is a little iffy but everything else seems to line up for him including playing great at this course alone.

Scott Stallings (GPP) $7,700

When he gains strokes with the putter, he does well every time. Comes in 3^rd in my model and his irons are number 1 in the field.

Troy Merritt (GPP) $7,600

I don’t love Troy in general, but he loves this course finishing 8^th and 2^nd the last two years while gaining over 5 strokes putting both times. It must be something he sees in these greens that he likes.

Taylor Pendrith (GPP) $7,500

Good golfer who has started to make a name on the PGA in a lower tier field I think we can honestly see a top 25 this week from him and that would be more than enough.

Chris Gotterup (GPP) $7,400

Curious how he holds up at this course, John Deere is a comp course and he just finished fourth over there while losing strokes putting. Now I do not think he comes top five but if he does that would just be and added bonus.

Harris English (Cash/GPP) $7,300

His stats won’t show up great because he was hurt for awhile and then came back and didn’t look amazing. Now after saying that almost every course he has played since returning is a difficult course. It is never the putter that hurts him and if we get a putting contest this week. I want Harris in my lineups.

MacKenzie Hughes (Cash/Gpp) $7,300

Should be a fairly sneaky play this week that I think plays well. He plays good on Donald Ross designed courses and is also one of the best putters in the field and can gain strokes putting in bunches.

Adam Svensson (Cash/GPP) $7,200

I think this is the week we see him shine. I know I loved him last week, but it just seems to setup well for him this week. He used to be a horrible putter but has now gained in his last 8 times out. 7^th in my model on the week as well if you needed a bit more convincing.

Hank Lebioda (GPP) $7,100

When he is gaining strokes putting, he is finished well in tournaments. Not long ago, he was gaining 5+ strokes a round and finishing top 10. His worse putting surface is Bermuda so he should do well here.

Patton Kizzire (GPP) $7,000

This play scares me a bit just because he could come out and lose strokes putting but other than that he is great on comp courses and has a top 25 here last year.

Sepp Straka (Cash/GPP) $6,700

A bit risky for Cash but I still do not mind getting aggressive with him. He is good on Donald Ross courses and has an 11^th and an 8^th at this course.

Matt Wallace (GPP) $6,700

When he is back into form and on his game. He is an $8k golfer and can compete in this field. He is 13^th in my overall model, but I wouldn’t not use him unless you want a low owned guy in a big tournament.

Ryan Moore (GPP) $6,600

I know most of you guys will not be falling for the Ryan Moore trap again but I will be going back for sure. Great on Donald Ross courses and is a good putter who lost over three strokes last week.