BlogRocket Mortgage Preview and Picks

Rocket Mortgage

June 27th – 30th, 2019

Detroit Golf Club

Detroit, Mich.

Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,340

Purse: $7.3 million

with $1,314,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
New Event on PGA Tour

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

The field includes 32 of the top 100 and 11 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings: #2 Dustin Johnson, #12 Gary Woodland, #14 Rickie Fowler, #22 Bubba Watson, #25 Patrick Reed, #26 Chez Reavie, #27 Kevin Kisner, #31 Hideki Matsuyama, #40 Cameron Smith, #41 Billy Horschel and #45 Brandt Snedeker.

The field includes 7 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2019.  Those players are #5 Gary Woodland, #7 Dustin Johnson, #10 Rickie Fowler, #12 Chez Reavie, #15 Charles Howell III, #17 Kevin Kisner and #22 Sung Kang.

This is the first time this event is being played so there is no history of this place and the course, Detroit Golf Club has never hosted a PGA Tour event.

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the Quicken Loans National

Player Travelers Champ. U.S. Open Canadian Open Memorial Tournament Charles Schwab PGA Championship Byron Nelson Wells Fargo Zurich Classic RBC Heritage Masters Valero Texas WGC Dell Match Play
Chez Reavie
(382 pts)
Win
(132)
T3
(180)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
T14
(48)
DNP T18
(10.67)
T18
(10.67)
T28
(7.33)
DNP DNP T56
(0)
Gary Woodland
(357.5 pts)
DNP Win
(264)
DNP T52
(0)
DNP T8
(66.67)
DNP WD
(-1.67)
DNP DNP T32
(12)
DNP T17
(16.5)
Dustin Johnson
(272.33 pts)
DNP T35
(30)
T20
(30)
DNP DNP 2
(133.33)
DNP DNP DNP T28
(7.33)
T2
(66.67)
DNP T40
(5)
Hideki Matsuyama
(183.67 pts)
DNP T21
(58)
DNP 6
(40)
DNP T16
(45.33)
T23
(9)
T31
(6.33)
DNP DNP T32
(12)
DNP T24
(13)
Brandt Snedeker
(160 pts)
T43
(7)
77
(0)
T4
(80)
DNP T19
(20.67)
T16
(45.33)
DNP DNP DNP T48
(0.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T24
(13)
Rory Sabbatini
(151.33 pts)
DNP T43
(14)
DNP T27
(15.33)
T6
(40)
DNP T5
(23.33)
T18
(10.67)
T3
(30)
T10
(13.33)
DNP T36
(4.67)
DNP
Billy Horschel
(146.33 pts)
DNP T32
(36)
DNP T9
(30)
T19
(20.67)
T23
(36)
DNP DNP T13
(12.33)
T45
(1.67)
T56
(0)
CUT
(-3.33)
T24
(13)
Kevin Streelman
(139.33 pts)
T15
(35)
DNP DNP 4
(53.33)
T31
(12.67)
DNP DNP T45
(1.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
T6
(20)
DNP 6
(20)
DNP
Kevin Kisner
(134.67 pts)
T15
(35)
T49
(2)
DNP T41
(6)
CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP DNP T5
(23.33)
T41
(3)
T21
(19.33)
DNP Win
(66)
Rickie Fowler
(117.67 pts)
DNP T43
(14)
DNP T14
(24)
CUT
(-6.67)
T36
(18.67)
DNP T4
(26.67)
DNP DNP T9
(30)
T17
(11)
DNP
Kevin Tway
(115 pts)
T5
(70)
DNP T44
(6)
DNP T19
(20.67)
77
(0)
T53
(0)
DNP T13
(12.33)
DNP T36
(9.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Sung Kang
(106.67 pts)
T78
(0)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP 7
(73.33)
Win
(44)
CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP T42
(2.67)
DNP
Joaquin Niemann
(101 pts)
T5
(70)
DNP T31
(19)
T27
(15.33)
T31
(12.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP T38
(4)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Peter Malnati
(99.67 pts)
T30
(20)
DNP T31
(19)
T17
(22)
T40
(6.67)
DNP T72
(0)
CUT
(-3.33)
T9
(15)
T16
(11.33)
DNP T23
(9)
DNP
Vaughn Taylor
(98 pts)
4
(80)
DNP DNP T48
(1.33)
T58
(0)
DNP T17
(11)
T13
(12.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T71
(0)
DNP
Zack Sucher
(95.33 pts)
T2
(100)
DNP CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T35
(5)
T50
(0.33)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Alex Prugh
(93.33 pts)
20
(30)
T21
(58)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP T79
(0)
T31
(6.33)
T13
(12.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Viktor Hovland
(88 pts)
T54
(0)
T12
(76)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T32
(12)
DNP DNP
Byeong Hun An
(85 pts)
CUT
(-10)
T16
(68)
DNP T17
(22)
68
(0)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP WD
(-1.67)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T7
(18.33)
T40
(5)
Jason Dufner
(83.33 pts)
DNP T35
(30)
DNP T7
(36.67)
T40
(6.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP T4
(26.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
T63
(0)
DNP DNP DNP
Sungjae Im
(81.33 pts)
T21
(29)
DNP 7
(55)
T57
(0)
CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
83
(0)
T31
(6.33)
T37
(4.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T20
(10)
DNP
Cameron Tringale
(79 pts)
T71
(0)
DNP T11
(39)
DNP DNP DNP T23
(9)
CUT
(-3.33)
T5
(23.33)
DNP DNP T17
(11)
DNP
Nick Watney
(73.33 pts)
T30
(20)
DNP CUT
(-10)
T22
(18.67)
T8
(33.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
T31
(6.33)
T9
(15)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Mackenzie Hughes
(72 pts)
T51
(0)
DNP T14
(36)
DNP T8
(33.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
T30
(6.67)
T63
(0)
DNP T42
(2.67)
DNP
Charley Hoffman
(72 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
T13
(24.67)
T54
(0)
DNP DNP T9
(15)
T45
(1.67)
T29
(14)
2
(33.33)
DNP
Stephan Jaeger
(69.67 pts)
T30
(20)
DNP T14
(36)
DNP DNP DNP T17
(11)
CUT
(-3.33)
T22
(9.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP
Patrick Reed
(69 pts)
T30
(20)
T32
(36)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-13.33)
T63
(0)
T28
(7.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T36
(9.33)
DNP T24
(13)
Kyoung-Hoon Lee
(68.33 pts)
T13
(37)
CUT
(-20)
DNP T37
(8.67)
T64
(0)
DNP T72
(0)
T60
(0)
T3
(30)
T48
(0.67)
DNP T14
(12)
DNP
Hank Lebioda
(67.33 pts)
T51
(0)
DNP T14
(36)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
T50
(0.33)
T5
(23.33)
DNP DNP T17
(11)
DNP
Jimmy Walker
(66 pts)
DNP CUT
(-20)
T35
(15)
DNP T19
(20.67)
T23
(36)
CUT
(-3.33)
T45
(1.67)
DNP DNP T36
(9.33)
T30
(6.67)
DNP
Ryan Moore
(66 pts)
T15
(35)
DNP DNP T33
(11.33)
DNP CUT
(-13.33)
T69
(0)
DNP DNP T41
(3)
DNP 3
(30)
DNP
Aaron Wise
(65.33 pts)
DNP T35
(30)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T41
(12)
T43
(2.33)
T18
(10.67)
DNP DNP 17
(22)
DNP T40
(5)
Jason Kokrak
(65 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP T62
(0)
DNP T23
(36)
DNP 69
(0)
T22
(9.33)
T16
(11.33)
DNP T7
(18.33)
DNP
Sam Burns
(63.33 pts)
T43
(7)
DNP DNP WD
(-3.33)
T31
(12.67)
T29
(28)
T72
(0)
WD
(-1.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
9
(15)
DNP T23
(9)
DNP
Brian Harman
(61 pts)
T8
(50)
DNP T50
(1)
T27
(15.33)
T31
(12.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
T24
(8.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the Quicken Loans National

Player Travelers Champ. U.S. Open Canadian Open Memorial Tournament Charles Schwab PGA Championship Byron Nelson Wells Fargo Zurich Classic RBC Heritage Masters Valero Texas WGC Dell Match Play
Michael Kim
(-53.33 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Martin Trainer
(-45 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-13.33)
WD
(-1.67)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP DNP 66
(0)
DNP
J.B. Holmes
(-39.83 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-13.33)
DNP WD
(-1.67)
T34
(5.33)
DNP T62
(0)
T71
(0)
T17
(16.5)
Ollie Schniederjans
(-39.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP T69
(0)
T28
(7.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DQ
(-1.67)
DNP T36
(4.67)
DNP
Whee Kim
(-39 pts)
CUT
(-10)
DNP CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
T37
(4.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP DNP
Sam Saunders
(-37.33 pts)
70
(0)
CUT
(-20)
CUT
(-10)
DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T42
(2.67)
DNP
Patton Kizzire
(-37 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
DNP CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
CUT
(-13.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
T45
(1.67)
T18
(21.33)
DNP DNP
Mike Weir
(-36.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-20)
CUT
(-10)
DNP T58
(0)
DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
(-6.67)
DNP DNP
Ernie Els
(-36.67 pts)
DNP CUT
(-20)
DNP WD
(-3.33)
DNP DNP CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP T57
(0)
DNP
Anirban Lahiri
(-30.67 pts)
CUT
(-10)
CUT
(-20)
DNP T52
(0)
T53
(0)
DNP CUT
(-3.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
T22
(9.33)
CUT
(-3.33)
DNP DNP DNP

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

This is a tournament that has been in the making for over a decade.  Between 1958 and 2009 the Detroit area had the Buick Open, which was played at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc about an hour from Detroit.  It was a great event that was well supported but was in the wrong place at the wrong time with sponsors that had major problems.  With the auto industry caving in with the global financial meltdown in 2008 the area was dying quickly.  Not only was the auto industry in need of a federal bailout, but those associated with the auto industry was also struggling and the community was struggling with tens of thousands losing their job.  So corporate dollars had disappeared as Michigan was trying to just survive.

So the Buick Open died on the vine, the last one was played in 2009 with Tiger Woods winning but a couple of folks associated with Detroit Golf Club saw the dream of having the PGA Tour return and play at Detroit Golf Club.

Those folks worked hard in not only finding a sponsor but getting the PGA Tour interested in returning to Michigan.  While this was happening Detroit Golf Club went through several renovation projects to modernize the course and make it worthy of hosting the best professionals in golf.  While they were working on the club, the PGA Tour checked in and liked what they were doing and around 2016 said that the course and the area were worthy of a PGA Tour event.  But just getting the PGA Tour to approve it didn’t mean they would get a tournament.  They needed two things, first, a heavy duty sponsor will in commit over $12 million to the cause and they had to find an open date, which was just as hard to obtain than a sponsor.  The folks from Detroit weren’t the only ones looking for a date, there are groups from Minnesota, St. Louis, Denver and the Seattle area looking for the same thing.

What happened was a stroke of luck for the folks at Detroit Golf club.  Quicken Loans was sponsoring Tiger Woods Washington D.C. event but since Quicken Loans was based in Detroit they were looking to move to there home.  So the PGA Tour did some match-making and put the folks of Detroit Golf Club with the folks of Quicken Loans and the decision was made last year to utilize the date of the Washington D.C. tournament to the Detroit.  When the Woods folks couldn’t secure a sponsor the event was dead in D.C. and basically moved to Detroit.

Now when people think about Detroit, they don’t associate having a golf tournament in a city that has been ravished with problems.  But the area is getting better, more non-auto industry money is moving in and Detroit is getting better.  And they do love their golf, the tournament buzz in the area has been positive in the six months before the tournament and they have sold out Saturday and Sunday which is a great signal that the feature of this event is great.

At the same time, those that run the tournament have worked hard to gaining player confidence in coming and playing in the event and have a good field.  They were disappointed in the work they put in to get Tiger Woods and he declined to play, but they have some marquee names in the field with Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, newly crowned U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland and Chez Reavie winning Hartford last week.  Now on top of this week happening, the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area also did a great plan and has secured next week so there will be two new events being played back to back.

The good news dates that are ok have been secured, but with the new schedule, a lot of players are taking the 3 weeks between Travelers and the British Open off.  That’s because of what the schedule requires, if you are in the top-30 to 50 on the FedExCup you will have to play in five events in a matter of six weeks.  Even with the FedExCup playoffs reduce from four events to three, the WGC-FedEx has moved to the week after the British Open, so you can see the lack of interest playing in between the U.S. and British Opens.  Still, it looks like both the Rocket Mortgage and 3M Championship will be a success and grow in further years.

Course information:
  • Detroit Golf Club
  • Detroit, Mich.
  • 7,340 yards     Par 36-36–72

The start of the Detroit Golf Club was in 1899 when a six-hole course was built.  In 1914 the club bought a large parcel of land and hired Donald Ross, at the time an up and coming golf architect to build two 18-hole courses.  In 1916 the new courses were open for play.  At the time of opening the club hired Albert Kahn to build them a clubhouse and he built one of the grandness buildings that opened in 1918 and today is a landmark building.

In the beginning, it was the place to play, Henry Ford became a member in 1915, his son joined and other dignitaries of Detroit joined.  Ross’ brother Alec who won the 1907 U.S. Open was the club’s first head professional and was at the club between 1918 and 1945.  He was replaced by Horton Smith, who won the first two Masters and he was the club’s pro until his death in 1963.  He was replaced by another PGA tour player, Detroit native Walter Burkemo.  After him, George  Baker was the pro, in the 50s and 60s Bayer won on the PGA Tour and was considered the longest hitter of the day.

When it was determined in 2006 that the Detroit Golf Club wanted a PGA Tour event, they accessed the course and realized the course needed to be updated to create a challenge for the best players in the world.  So the club approved changes to be made in four stages in 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2014.  They decided not to change the character of the two Donald Ross courses but hired Bruce Hepner to update the course.  At the end of the day very little was needed on the North Course which will use 17 of its holes for the Rocket Mortgage.  The 3rd hole will use the 1st hole of the South course so technically it will be a composite course.

The course is famous for its tree-lined fairways but the greens are what gets must of the attention.  They average 5,100 square feet so they are small by PGA Tour standards and have 41 of the courses 87 bunkers protecting them.  What makes the greens hard is the undulations, along with the fact that many of the greens are tiered with different levels making it important the put your shot to the green in the right position.  Another problem for the players, a lot of the greens are raised so if green is missed it means a pitch is in order instead of chipping the ball, again another skill set that isn’t practiced very much.  The course is tree-lined but for the most part, have generous fairways to hit.  The Detroit area has had an abundance of rain in the last month so the not only is the course very lush, but the rough has had time to grow and become very lush which will make it hard to get some shots to the green.  The course did go through an upgrade in the last decade to make it harder for PGA Tour caliber players, but with straight holes, most of the long-hitters have a chance to overpower the course.

Since the course will be new to most players, nobody has an advantage of local knowledge so that tends to help those that haven’t won much.  It also helps those players that are struggling because it’s a new experience and those having problems won’t have bad memories from years past.

Will the course help the long hitters, probably since it’s length at 7,340 is a bit short, but with straight fairways that have limited rough the only true hazard will be the 30 fairway bunkers and in most cases, they are shallow and will be easy to get out of.  In looking for a winner it probably will be the player you least expect who are on the cusp of finding their game.

DraftKings tips

*Here are the guys that cost the most on DraftKings this week:

  • Dustin Johnson – $12,000
  • Rickie Fowler – $11,200
  • Gary Woodland – $10,900
  • Hideki Matsuyama – $10,200
  • Brandt Snedeker – $9,900
  • Chez Reavie – $9,700
  • Ryan Moore – $9.500
  • Patrick Reed – $9,300
  • Kevin Kisner – $9,100
  • Bill Horschel – $9,000

In past PGA Tour events played on new courses, the person you least expect to win will win.  Perfect example when the AT&T Byron Nelson moved to Trinity Forest nobody thought of Aaron Wise, who ran away and hid.  The same in 2017 when the Wells Fargo went to Eagle Point for the first time, nobody thought of Brian Harman and he beat Dustin Johnson by a shot.  Now talking about Johnson and the fact that sometimes a marquee player can win on a new course, in 2017 the WGC-Mexico was moved from Doral to Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico and Dustin Johnson played great and won, so it can work either way.  But honestly, for this week I think that you will have another Aaron Wise winner because it’s later in the season and players don’t have as much time to get accustomed to a new course.  As for our top players, Dustin Johnson is very hit at $12,000.  Now the course does favor the bomber, but at the same time you have to do well on the greens and putting have been a problem for Johnson, he is 141st in putting inside ten feet but is 190th in putting from 4 to 8 feet so I am going to avoid Johnson.  Rickie Fowler is next at $11,200 and this is a high price for him.  But Fowler does play his best on tough courses and seems to win when you least expect it.  He also played well at Aronimink the site of last year’s BMW Championship, the course is a Donald Ross gem that Fowler was T-8th so you make up your mind on Fowler, I think he is too high to take.  Next is Gary Woodland at $10,900 and if there is anyone I say no to it’s him.  Not that he can’t play this bombers course, just think he will have too much on his plate as the newly crowned U.S. Open champion will have a lot of people grabbing him.  He is also inconsistent in putting and has problems scrambling ranking 148th on tour this year.  Now I don’t like the first three, but I do like Hideki Matsuyama at $10,200.  His game has improved of late, is a great shotmaker and is great in scrambling.  I also like Brandt Snedeker at $9,900.  He has won at East Lake, another Donald Ross course and is 3rd in Strokes Gained Around the Green and 11th in putting inside ten feet.  Chez Reavie at $9,700 was one of my favorites last week but think just like Gary Woodland he has too much on his plate this week to pass on him.  Ryan Moore at $9,500 is a good choice, again he is a person you least expect to win and should do well on this course.  I can’t say no fast enough on Patrick Reed at $9,300, he has struggled most of the year.  Now Kevin Kisner at $9,100 is very high on my list his game suits a Donald Ross course due to his short game and putting.  Is 52nd in Scrambling along with being 17th in Putting inside of ten feet.  Was T-3rd at another Donald Ross course East Lake during 2016 Tour Championship so I like him.  I also like Billy Horschel at $9,000, plays great on Donald Ross courses, won at East Lake in 2014.  He is steady across the board in all stats, nothing bad or nothing spectacular, just the average pro on the PGA Tour

*Players in that $7,600 to $8,900 price range, which ones are worth the money?:

Joaquin Niemann at $8,900 after a slow start to his year is coming on strong, was T-5th at Travelers Championship. Is 34th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green and 35th in Strokes Gained Approach-the-Green.  Kevin Streelman at $8,600 is also a great choice, his two wins at Valspar and Travelers have come on courses know as shot-maker type of courses.  Has played his best on Shotmaker courses, this year was 4th at Memorial, T-6th in Heritage, 6th at Valero Texas and T-7th at AT&T Pebble.  Also, think Viktor Hovland at $8,400 will do well, he is playing good and could have won a lot in his professional debut last week at the Travelers but shot 73 in the final round.  Want a couple of great longshots at a cheap rate?  Try these two first Kevin Tway at $8,100, he was T-5th at the Travelers, 15 under in his last five rounds.  Plays well on Shotmaker courses was T-11th at Wyndham last year, the course is a Donald Ross course.  I also think that Jason Dufner at $8,000 will be good, been in the top-ten in 2 of his last five starts, he was T-4th at Wells Fargo and T-7th at Memorial all shotmaker type of courses.  Two of his five PGA Tour wins have come on shotmaker courses like Memorial, his PGA Championship win came on Donald Ross design Oak Hill.  I also like Vaughn Taylor at $7,600, he was 4th at Travelers and his win at Pebble Beach in 2016 came out of nowhere.

Some of the “bargains” this week at the Travelers

Everyone in this category is a bargain, I wouldn’t be surprised if the winner can be bought for under $7,600.  One of those could be J.J. Spaun who is $7,400, he is a local and has played well of late.  Brendan Steele is also at $7,200 a player that you least think of who can win.  He plays well on tough courses and been steady of late.  Beau Hossler at $7,200 is good, he has worked hard and plays well on tough courses.  Also, think that the course is short enough for Luke Donald who is a good deal at $6,700.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the Rocket Mortgage:

The key stat for the winner:

  • Like every other Donald Ross course, a shotmaker will rule.  Those that hit it long and straight will have an advantage, but for a player to win he has to have pinpoint accuracy in shots to the green to put the ball in the right place for that right putt.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

  • The player with the least amount of putts in the 3 to 12-foot range will win.  So look for those who are the best on tour making putts inside ten feet.
  • In most cases, it will be hard to hit all of the greens so scrambling will come into play and could save those that aren’t that precise with shots to the green.
  • Don’t automatically pick one of the marquee names like Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler or U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, look for those players whose games have improved the last couple of weeks just like Chez Reavie last week at the Travelers.
  • The four par 5s are between 552 and 635 yards in length, but only one of the greens are guarded by a lake (14) and since all of them are straightaway, I can see someone playing them in 12 under par so look for those that do well on par 5s.
  • Friday, Saturday and Sunday each have a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms, so patient will be very important in getting through.

Who to watch for at the Rocket Mortgage

Best Bets:

Hideki Matsuyama

His game has improved of late, was 6th at the Memorial and T-21st at the U.S. Open and was 2 under on the weekend. He is a great shotmaker, 5th in Strokes gained Tee-to-Green and 22nd in Greens in Regulation. 20th in scrambling for the year, is 23rd in Par 5 birdie or better, was 10 under on the par 5s at Memorial, 1 under at Pebble. Hideki is one of the best on adapting to a new course

Jason Dufner

Been in the top-ten in 2 of his last five starts, he was T-4th at Wells Fargo and T-7th at Memorial all shotmaker type of courses.  Ranks 20th in Greens in Regulation and T-10th in Proximity to Hole. Two of his five PGA Tour wins have come on shotmaker courses like Memorial, his PGA Championship win came on Donald Ross design Oak Hill.

Brandt Snedeker

Has played well this year on Shotmaker courses, was T-4th at Hamilton, site of Canadian Open, was T-19th at Colonial, T-16th at the PGA Championship and T-5th at the Players. Has won at East Lake in 2012, another Donald Ross gem.  Is 3rd in Strokes Gained Around-the-Green, 11th in Putting inside ten feet.

Best of the rest:

Kevin Kisner

Game showing signs of coming around was 8 under at Travelers.  His game suits a Donald Ross course due to his short game and putting.  Is 52nd in Scrambling along with being 17th in Putting inside of ten feet. Was T-3rd at another Donald Ross course East Lake during 2016 Tour Championship.

Kevin Streelman

His two wins at Valspar and Travelers have come on courses know as shot-maker type of courses.  Has played his best on Shotmaker courses, 4th at Memorial, T-6th in Heritage, 6th at Valero Texas and T-7th at AT&T Pebble.  T-28th in Strokes Gained Off-the-Tee, 34th in Greens in Regulation.

Rickie Fowler

Seems to win when you least expect him to win, flying very low on the radar this week.  Plays his best on tough courses like in majors.  Was T-8th last year in the BMW Championship played on a Donald Ross course Aronimink.

Solid Contenders

Billy Horschel

Plays great on Donald Ross courses, won at East Lake in 2014. T-24th in Putting from 10 feet. He is steady across the board in all stats, nothing bad or nothing spectacular, just the average pro on the PGA Tour.

Kevin Tway

Is T-44th in Greens in Regulation and 30th in scrambling.   Was T-5th at the Travelers, 15 under in his last five rounds, plays well on Shotmaker courses, was T-11th at Wyndham last year, the course is a Donald Ross course

Ryan Moore

Is a great ball striker who makes a lot of birdies and eagles. Has struggled of late, but his game has been coming around T-15th at Memorial.

Long shots that could come through:

Joaquin Niemann

After a slow start to his year is coming on strong, was T-5th at Travelers Championship.  Is 34th in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green and 35th in Strokes Gained Approach-the-Green.

Brian Harman

His last win at the Wells Fargo in 2017 came on a course that was new to the PGA Tour. Putting has saved his year, is T-6th in Putting inside ten feet, he would be the person you least expect to win.

Vaughn Taylor

Was 4th at Travelers, makes a lot of birdies, for the year 281 which is T-6th.  His win at Pebble Beach in 2016 came out of nowhere.

Want to avoid them this week:

Dustin Johnson

Putting has been his Achilles heel of late, not only is he 141st in putting inside ten feet but is 190th in putting from 4 to 8 feet.  He is only 6 under par in his last 8 rounds, at Pebble was 3 over on the weekend. Haven’t seen him really sharp for more than three straight rounds since Mexico in February.

Gary Woodland

He will be the center of attention and will have very little time to work on his game.  Has been very inconsistent on the greens, ranks 184th in putting inside ten feet, has problems when he misses greens, ranks 148th in scrambling

 

Comments

  1. buhhhb1@gmail.com says

    Good stuff !!

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