Picks to Win & Best Bets for the Rocket Classic

Good luck to the Rocket Classic, which has to follow up the two-week stretch we just had at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship. Holy moly, was that some high-level golf and high-level entertainment.

But then again, there are some great names in the field at Detroit Golf Club, so let’s see if we can keep the good vibes rolling before the world of golf heads across the pond in a few weeks.

Cam Davis is set to defend his title and will be joined in the field by the likes of Collin Morikawa, Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley, Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Young, Hideki Matsuyama, Luke Clanton, Wyndham Clark, Max Homa, and Tony Finau, among others.

This week’s champion will go home with $1.728 million of the $9.6 million purse and 500 FedEx Cup points.

Now, let’s make some picks.

Golf Course & Course History

Detroit Golf Club | Par 72 | 7,370 yards | Donald Ross design

Betting Odds to Win the Rocket Classic

Collin Morikawa (+1200)

Keegan Bradley (+1600)

Patrick Cantlay (+1800)

Ben Griffin (+2200)

Cameron Young (+2800)

Hideki Matsuyama (+3000)

Harry Hall (+3300)

Si Woo Kim (+3500)

Luke Clanton (+4000)

Max Greyserman (+4000)

Keith Mitchell (+4000)

Wyndham Clark (+4000)

Tony Finau (+4000)

Akshay Bhatia (+4500)

Min Woo Lee (+4500)

Rickie Fowler (+4500)

Davis Thompson (+5000)

Chris Gotterup (+5000)

Matt Fitzpatrick (+5000)

Rasmus Hojgaard (+5000)

Picks to Win the Rocket Classic

Cameron Young (28/1)

This pick feels so obvious that it scares me a little bit. With my luck, he’ll probably miss the cut. But let’s ride anyway.

CYoung has turned a corner with his game over the last couple months and his results are starting to show it. Since the start of May, he’s tied for seventh at the Truist Championship, for 25th at the Memorial, and for fourth at both the RBC Canadian Open and U.S. Open. He struggled off the tee in Connecticut and finished T-52, but his approach play was fine and he putted it well.

As for his history at the Rocket, he’s played in the Motor City twice. He tied for second in 2022 and grabbed a share of sixth a year ago. This place fits his game to a T, so I expect to see him in the mix come Sunday. But, like I said, it feels too easy. He’ll probably miss the cut.

Luke Clanton (40/1)

I don’t think Clanton is going to be one of those kids who takes awhile to get adjusted to TOUR life and has to wait a few years before winning their first event. I think he’s going to get it done early. And Detroit Golf Club is a great place for him to do it.

Length off the tee is a huge advantage around this Donald Ross design, and Clanton was ninth in the field at the Travelers in that department. Despite a T-32 finish, he was 18th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 14th in SG: Putting, so if he can find a few more fairways he’ll be right there. Plus, in one appearance at this tournament, the Florida State product grabbed a share of 10th a year ago, his second TOUR start.

Taylor Moore (60/1)

This guy loves this place, and it doesn’t matter how he’s been playing coming into the week.

In 2024, Moore missed three straight cuts, tied for 68th at the Travelers, tied for 10th at the Rocket, then missed two cuts in a row. In 2023, he tied for 72nd at the PGA Championship, missed three cuts in a row, tied for fourth in Detroit, then missed two cuts. He finished sixth here in 2022, too.

It’s just something about Detroit Golf Club.

He hasn’t been playing well, so I get if you want to pass on him. But at the very least, I’ll have him on the card for a top-30 or top-20. Let’s see if his trend continues.