Rocket Mortgage Classic Key Fantasy Stats

Rocket Mortgage Classic

June 27th – 30th, 2024

Detroit Golf Club

Detroit, MI

Par: 72 / Yardage: 7,370

Purse: $9.2 million

with $1,656.000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Rickie Fowler

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This is based on the most vital stats from Detroit Golf Club, data from last year’s Rocket Mortgage, and data from all the players in the field with stats from 2024.
In all five years that the Rocket Mortgage Classic has been played at Detroit Golf Club, the PGA Tour has been very careful in setting up the tournament. The original course had six holes in 1899 and was expanded to 18 holes in 1902. In 1913, additional land was bought, and the club hired Donald Ross to survey the property and suggest the best course of action. Ross suggested that two 18-hole courses could be built on the property, and the club decided to go with Ross’s plan, which was completed in 1916. Both courses are considered hidden gems. The North Course, a par 72, would become more daunting than the South Course, a par 68, with the North Course now roughly 870 yards longer. The courses held local events until the PGA Tour felt it could hold a tournament on it. When Rocket Mortgage decided to sponsor the event, the tour and club made some renovations to bring the club up to PGA Tour standards by updating the course along with the drainage and irrigation system. After next year’s Rocket Mortgage, the course will have a significant renovation in time for the 2026 event. 17 holes of the North course were selected, with one hole from the South Course. Even though the course is daunting, the Ross course is nothing like Pinehurst, which held last week’s U.S. Open. The course is tree-lined and rough, making the pros think twice and be careful off the Tee. The greens are less punishing than Pinehurst but still have a lot of undulations and are tough to put. Like Pinehurst, the greens are hard to hit because they are crowned like Pinehurst, and balls tend to run off, leading to a tough chip to get it up and down.

In the five years, the course played overly fair, with the scoring average being 70.21, which is close to 2 shots under par. So, remember this: Detroit Golf Club is a relatively easy course. In 2023, it played to a 69.92 average, making it the 49th hardest course (out of 58 on tour last year). Making birdies is essential, as 2,066 were made on the course last year. Only one other course in 2013 had more birdies, El Cardonal at Diamante, which saw 2,094 made on it.
As we said, the Detroit Golf Club field’s scoring average was low last year due mostly to the weather, which was warm with rain and not much wind. Soft conditions bring on low scoring.

Here is a look at the scoring average at the par 72 Detroit Golf Club for the last few years:
*2022 – Average was 71.06, was the 29th hardest of the 50 courses that year
*2021 – Average was 71.37; it was the 28th hardest of the 51 courses that year
*2020 – Average was 70.01; it was the 36th hardest of the 41 courses that year
*2019 – Average was 70.62, 35th hardest of 49 courses that year. In the history of the PGA Tour, it’s one of the lowest-scoring averages for any event.
So, the course is the type you must think low and make many birdies on. Look for super low scoring this week since the temperatures will be in the high 70s and low 80s each day. With rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, the course will again be soft. Look for thunderstorms on Saturday. Winds will be mild each day, under 12 mpg.

In looking at our four categories, we have to think very differently because the nature of Detroit Golf Club is an old, tested venue. First, we will use Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, which looks at the length and accuracy of the drive off the Tee. Last year, the field hit an average of 72.66% of the greens and ranked 47th (only 11 other courses hit more greens). At the same time, the course had an average of 67.01% of the fairways being hit, which ranked 49th (9 courses had more fairways hit). So this is important in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, our top stats to look for. Last year’s winner, Rickie Fowler, ranked T-2nd in Greens in Regulation, hitting 61 of 72 greens, and was T-61st in Fairways hit with 35 of 56 fairways hit. He was 3rd for the week in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green, gaining 2.724 strokes per round.
Here is a look at the Greens in Regulation and fairways hit at Detroit Golf Club and how it corresponds to the winners in the last few years in Strokes Gained Tee-to-Green:
*2022 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 40th in Greens in Regulation (71.85%) and 33rd in Driving Accuracy (62.48%). Winner Tony Finau was 1st in Greens in Regulation, hitting 66 of 72 greens, and was T-3rd in Fairways hit with 46 of 56 fairways hit. With that, he was 1st in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 3.532 shots per round.
*2021 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 45th in Greens in Regulation (72.29%) and 41st in Driving accuracy (68.43%). Winner Cam Davis was T-24th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 55 of 72 greens, and was T-29th in Fairways hit with 40 of 56 fairways hit. With that, he was 4th in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 2.112 shots per round.
*2020 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 35th in Greens in Regulation (72.43%) and 31st in Driving accuracy (65.22%). Winner Bryson DeChambeau was T-13th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 56 of 72 greens, and was T-58th in Fairways hit with 33 of 56 fairways hit. He was 4th in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 1.821 shots per round.
*2019 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 40th in Greens in Regulation (75.52%) and 30th in Driving accuracy (64.48%). Winner Nate Lashley was T-4th in Greens in Regulation, hitting 59 of 72 greens, and was T-11th in Fairways hit with 41 of 56 fairways hit. With that, he was 3rd in Strokes Gained Tee to Green, picking up 2.005 shots per round.

Our 2nd category is scrambling, and you can see why. This is a Donald Ross course, so we know Ross greens are always hard to hit. On top of that, the greens are also small at 5,150 square feet and are raised, so they are tough to get on. Since the course is compatible with low scoring, you can see that if you miss a lot of greens, you better get it up and down to play well. Last year, Detroit Golf Club ranked T-41st out of 58 courses in scrambling, getting it up and down 61.63% of the time. Winner Rickie Fowler ranked 71st, getting up and down on 6 of the 11 greens he missed.
Here is a look at the scrambling of the Rocket Mortgage winners in recent years:
*2022 – Detroit Golf Club ranked T-29th in scrambling out of the 50 courses that tracked scrambling for the year, getting it up and down 60.79% of the time.
Winner Tony Finau was 1st, getting it up and down 6 of the 6 greens he missed.
*2021 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 46th in scrambling out of 51 courses that tracked scrambling for the year, getting it up and down 64.04% of the time.
Winner Cam Davis was T-16th, getting it up and down on 13 of the 18 greens he missed.
*2020 – Detroit Golf Club finished 34th in scrambling out of the 41 courses that tracked scrambling this year, getting it up and down 62.43% of the time.
Winner Bryson DeChambeau was T-29th, getting it up and down 11 of the 16 greens he missed.
*2019 – Detroit Golf Club was ranked 39th in scrambling out of the 49 courses that tracked scrambling for the year, getting it up and down 62.03% of the time.
Winner Nate Lashley ranked 2nd, getting it up and down 11 of the 13 greens he missed.
The winner has to do a great job of getting it up and down on the greens he misses.

Our third category is Strokes Gained Putting, which is an important part of the game. We picked this stat because most past Rocket Mortgage winners are notoriously good putters. Last year, Detroit Golf Club ranked 38th in Putting average, 22nd in One-Putt Percentage, T-24th in three-putt Avoidance, and 7th in Putting Inside ten feet, as 86.89% of the putts in this range were made.
Last year’s winner, Rickie Fowler, ranked 5th in Putting Average, T-31st in One-Putt Percentage, T-14th in 3-putt Avoidance, and T-37th in Putting Inside ten feet, making 60 out of 68 of the putts in this range. With these stats, he was 12th in Strokes Gained Putting, gaining 1.130 shots.

Here is a look at the putting stats of the Detroit Golf Club and Rocket Mortgage winners in the last few years:
2022 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 26th in Putting Average, 10th in One-Putt Percentage, 26th in 3-Putt Avoidance, and 18th in Putting Inside ten feet, as 87.81% of the putts in this range were made.
Winner Tony Finau ranked 35th in Putting average, 61st in One-Putt Percentage, T-9th in 3-putt Avoidance, and 53rd in Putting Inside ten feet, making 61 out of 70 of the putts in this range. With these stats, he was 15th in Strokes Gained in Putting, gaining 1.120 shots.
2021 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 24th in Putting Average, 12th in One-Putt Percentage, T-26th in 3-Putt Avoidance, and 21st in Putting Inside ten feet, as 87.94% of the putts in this range were made.
Winner Cam Davis ranked 15th in Putting average, T-6th in One-Putt Percentage, T-62nd in 3-putt Avoidance, and 38th in Putting Inside ten feet, making 65 out of 73 putts in this range. With these stats, he was 22nd in Strokes Gained Putting, gaining .774 shots.
2020 – Detroit Golf Club ranked T-28th in Putting average, 18th in One-Putt Percentage, 24th in 3-putt Avoidance, and 7th in Putting Inside ten feet, as 87.08% of the putts in this range were made.
Winner Bryson DeChambeau ranked 7th in Putting average, T-5th in One-Putt Percentage, T-10th in 3-putt Avoidance, and T-4th in Putting Inside ten feet, making 63 out of 68 putts in this range. With all these stats, he was 1st in Strokes Gained Putting, gaining 1.958 shots.
2019 – Detroit Golf Club ranked 29th in Putting Average, 19th in One-Putt Percentage, 19th in 3-Putt Avoidance, and 17th in Putting Inside ten feet, as 87.74% of the putts in this range were made.
Winner Nate Lashley ranked 2nd in Putting average, T-2nd in One-Putt Percentage, T-12th in 3-putt Avoidance, and 4th in Putting Inside ten feet, making 64 out of 68 putts in this range. With all these stats, he was 2nd in Strokes Gained Putting, gaining 2.332 shots.

Our last category is Par Breakers because making eagles and birdies is significant. Last year at Detroit Golf Club, 2,066 birdies were made, which ranked 57th in the number of birdies made for the event (out of 58th courses). There were 58 eagles made last year, which ranked T-51st. Thanks to this, 24.63% of the holes were played under par (par breakers) as the Rocket Mortgage ranked 47th in par breakers. Winner Rickie Fowler was 1st with 27 birdies and one eagle. He was 1st in Par Breakers at 38.89%.

Here is a look at the Par Breakers of the Rocket Mortgage winners in recent years:
*2022 – Detroit Golf Club saw 1,822 birdies (44th hardest) and 50 eagles (43rd) as 22.71% of holes were under par, making it the 34th hardest of the 50 courses that year.
Winner Tony Finau made 27 birdies (T-2nd) and no eagles, as 37.50% of the holes played were under par, and he ranked T-2nd in Par Breakers.
*2021 – Detroit Golf Club had 1,740 birdies (44th hardest) and 23 eagles (12th), and 21.06% of holes played were under par, making it the 25th hardest of the 51 courses that year.
Winner Cam Davis made 23 birdies (T-2nd) and one eagle; 33.33% of the holes played were under par, ranking him T-1st in Par Breakers.
*2020 – Detroit Golf Club saw 1,887 birdies (39th hardest) and 42 eagles (T-34th), with 23.81% of holes played under par, making it the 35th hardest of the 41 courses that year.
Winner Bryson DeChambeau made 27 birdies (2nd) and one eagle, with 38.89% of the holes played under par, ranking him 2nd in Par Breakers.
*2019 – Detroit Golf Club saw 1,895 birdies (48th hardest) and 40 eagles (T-33rd) as 23.78% of holes played were under par, making it the 38th hardest of the 49 courses this year.
Winner Nate Lashley made 28 birdies (1st) and no eagles as 38.89% of the holes played were under par, ranking him 1st in Par Breakers.
So, the winner has to make a lot of birdies and eagles. In a way, Par Breakers was influential in the winner’s stats at Rocket Mortgage.

*Strokes Gained Tee to Green: The combination of distance off the tee, accuracy, and the ability to hit greens in regulation.

*Scrambling: The percent of time a player misses the green in regulation, but still makes par or better.

*Strokes Gained Putting: Gives the equivalent of putting based on strokes gained or lost

*Par Breakers: Who makes the most birdies and eagles per round.

Of the 156 players in the field, 114 have stats on the PGA Tour for 2024.

Click any column title in the table header to sort columns.