The PGA Tour heads back to the Detroit Golf Club on Friday (AEDT) for the third edition of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Defending champion Bryson Dechambeau has been installed as the only single-digit chance after dominating off the tee last year, but there is a case to be made for several names in the market with low scores and plenty of birdies expected right across the weekend.
With the Open Championship right around the corner, find out who we’re backing at this year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic below.
2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic Best Bet
Hideki Matsuyama at $15.00
Aside from a rough weekend at The Memorial last month, the 2021 Masters champ really hasn’t put a foot wrong since he prevailed at Augusta to become Japan’s first major champion.
Matsuyama now heads to Detroit well-rested following a T26 at Torrey Pines, and I think the course should suit his style of play perfectly as it tends to favour guys that can consistently strike their irons.
The Detroit Golf Club is very flat, so you can expect to see plenty of birdies and low-scoring rounds this week.
Matsuyama knows that first hand after finishing T21 here last year, and his recent form suggests he should be in the thick of things once again.
2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic Best Value
Will Zalatoris at $26.00
The promising youngster missed the cut at the US Open, but I think this is the perfect tournament for him to bounce back.
Zalatoris’ putting could use some work, but he’s just about the complete package ranking third in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green and ninth in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.
This is his first look at Detroit but given this course a) doesn’t call for anything special and, b) has rather forgiving greens, I’m happy to have something small on the 24-year-old at good odds.
Doc Redman at $46.00
If you like to base your bets on past results, look no further than Redman.
The 23-year-old finished runner-up at the inaugural edition of this event two years ago and was equally impressive last year finishing T21 thanks to a sparkling first round 65.
More recently, he’s made the cut in each of his last five tournaments with a co runner-up at Congaree last month being the main highlight.
2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic Best Roughie
Chez Reavie at $81.00
We’ve got some good money here for the TOUR veteran as he continues to heat up.
Reavie has made the cut in his last three appearances, and I thought there was a lot to like about his final two rounds last week at the Travelers where he finished T25.
More importantly, the 39-year-old also ranks Top 25 in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, so he should have the short game needed to tackle this course.
