Teeing it up: 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic
Detroit, MI is home to the Rocket Mortgage Classic
Top names are taking some much needed time off this week as the PGA Tour heads north to Detroit, Michigan for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Shane Lowry shared that he has not been to his home since January 3rd…wow. I know there are several of us out there, myself included, who would love to have the skillset required to play on the PGA Tour. But what we don’t see are the demands placed on the players & their families as they chase trophies across the world. With the biggest names in golf starting their prep for The Open Championship, we find plenty of other Tour members on the outside of the FedEx Cup playoffs looking to gain some ground. The top-70 players on the points list move forward in the playoffs at the end of the season with a ton of money and bragging rights on the line. It’s at this point in the season where we see guys start sweating a little bit more as the curtain starts to set on their season. Last year we watched as Justin Thomas fought to stay around the 70th position through the end of the summer swing.
The highest ranked player in the field this week is Akshay Bhatia, sitting at 15th after a strong performance at the Travelers Championship. Tom Kim, last weeks runner-up, comes back for his third consecutive Rocket Mortgage Classic. It was at this tournament in 2022 where Kim secured his PGA Tour card with a seventh place finish and propelled him to a win in the same season at the Wyndham Championship. Min Woo Lee will make his debut in this event and has finished inside the top-30 in each of his last five starts.
Other notable entries this week include Neal Shipley, the remarkable Ohio State player who won Low Amateur at both the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open in the same season. Young golfer Miles Russell, who at 15 years old, makes his first start on Tour. We also have the feel good story of the week in Monday Qualifier Nick Bienz. The local Golf Galaxy employee has never entered a tournament bigger than a state event and even had to survive a 5-for-4 playoff on Monday to secure his entry into the event. The best part? He drank a couple of beers to calm his nerves while waiting for the playoff to start. Kevin Kisner lobbied for the PGA Tour to pair them up for the opening two rounds, but unfortunately we will all miss out this week as that did not happen.
Enough chatter about the golf world, let’s get to those picks!
Kevin Matznick: Life off the Links Podcast
@Lifeoffthelinks
Pick to win: Joel Dahmen
Insight into the tournament:
The Rocket Mortgage is always a fun event and one that still draws a lot of big name players. What I'm excited for: 1. 15 year old Miles Russell making his PGA Tour debut after becoming the youngest player in history to make the cut at a Korn Ferry Tour event. 2. Neal Shipley making his Pro Debut after being low amateur at both Masters and US Open.
Nate Hyrn: Founder, Acorn Hills Clothing Co.
@AcornHills
Pick to win: Rickie Fowler
Rickie is warming up - let’s see if he defends his title in Detroit!
TJ James: Basic Bogeys Podcast & more!
@BasicBogeys | @TJBreaks80
Pick to win: Tom Kim
I’m feeling great after having the low pick of the week for the Travelers. Almost made me want to ride with Rickie again this week and watch him try and repeat at the Rocket Mortgage after he got into the winners circle for the first time in 4 years following the playoff last year. However, we are going to change it up and ride with the hot hand…Tom Kim. He’s been right in the mix quite a bit over the past few weeks and I think without having a star studded lineup like the Travelers did as a signature event he will be able to close the deal and get back into the winner’s circle himself.
My Pick
@longleafgolf
My Pick: Akshay Bhatia
Is this the week that we watch a Raleigh resident pick up his second victory of the season? Akshay Bhatia was paired with World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler over Saturday & Sunday last weekend and did not blink. Ice in his veins and birdies on his card. Akshay gets it done in Detroit!
