Final chapter in Detroit
The Rocket Classic tees off Thursday, July 30 at Detroit Golf Club for the eighth and final time, with defending champion Aldrich Potgieter and a stacked 145-player field competing for a $10 million purse. This marks the deepest lineup in tournament history, with 21 players ranked inside the world's top 50. As the penultimate event before the FedEx Cup Playoffs begin, players on the bubble need strong finishes to secure their postseason spots, adding urgency to an already compelling week.
A dramatically different course
Detroit Golf Club plays as a par 70 this year at 7,328 yards following a major overhaul of the venerable Donald Ross design. Two reachable par 5s have been converted into demanding par 4s, with the seventh hole now stretching to 505 yards and the 17th measuring 537 yards. The course now features four par 4s exceeding 500 yards, shifting emphasis away from pure birdie-making toward consistency, patience and course management.
Every green was restored to the Donald Ross original shape, with 91 bunkers installed up from 84. While low scores will still be possible, the days of treating Detroit Golf Club as one of the easiest venues on the PGA Tour appear to be over. The restoration creates a fundamentally different strategic challenge than the first seven editions, where long hitters feasted on short par 5s. This year rewards tee-to-green consistency and the ability to navigate long approach shots into redesigned greens with Ross's characteristic contours.
Players to watch
Cameron Young (OWGR 3) leads the field as the highest-ranked player after winning The Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship in 2026. Young also finished runner-up at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale earlier this month. His ball-striking profile fits a course demanding precision from tee to green, and he enters as the betting favorite for good reason. Young's ability to hit fairways and control distance on long irons positions him perfectly for the new par-70 layout with its quartet of 500-yard par 4s.
Xander Schauffele (OWGR 15), who has five top-10 finishes this season, makes his Rocket Classic debut. The two-time major champion has 10 career PGA Tour wins and has recorded four top-10 finishes this season. Schauffele's renowned consistency and elite iron play make him dangerous on a renovated course where avoiding mistakes matters as much as making birdies. His ability to manage par 4s in the 500-yard range could separate him from the field.
Chris Gotterup (OWGR 7) returns to action after winning three times in 2026, most recently capturing the John Deere Classic on July 5. His recent form puts him among the elite tier of contenders. Russell Henley (OWGR 5) brings a game built for precision, with multiple top-10s this year including strong major finishes. His previous Rocket Classic experience (T10 in 2022) on the old layout won't matter much given the restoration, but his ability to control trajectory and hit greens travels to any setup.
Si Woo Kim (OWGR 18) showed strong form at The Open, leading in the final round before finishing T6. His recent performance on links turf at Royal Birkdale suggests a player comfortable with demanding conditions and strategic golf, both of which apply this week. Other names to monitor include Ben Griffin (OWGR 19), 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (OWGR 25), Genesis Invitational winner Jacob Bridgeman (OWGR 31), and Arnold Palmer Invitational champion Akshay Bhatia (OWGR 32).
Pool picks strategy
The course renovation changes everything about past data from Detroit Golf Club. Historical performance here has limited value, which levels the playing field and creates opportunity for players making their debut. Prioritize current ball-striking form and players who manage long par 4s efficiently rather than bombers who thrived on the old par 5s. Look for steady iron players with recent top-20 finishes rather than volatile talents hunting a hot week. Stuck between players? Our player comparison tool uses real PGA Tour strokes-gained data and weights each category by what this course rewards, then names the pick with a probability score.
Create your pool for the final Rocket Classic
The eighth and final edition of this tournament offers a fitting chance to run your office pool as the playoff race intensifies. Set up your Rocket Classic pool with customizable scoring, automated leaderboards, and real-time updates that handle the details while you focus on the competition. New to golf pools? Log in and create your pool in minutes with our streamlined setup process that works for groups of any size.