Rocket Mortgage Classic Picks, Predictions and Odds (It's Time for Cameron Young to Win)
The PGA Tour heads to Detroit, Michigan, for the penultimate event in the regular season, the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
This will be the fourth year of the tournament's existence, and Cameron Davis will enter this week as the defending champion.
The field is still on the weaker side in terms of star power as many of the top golfers are resting and preparing for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Let's dive into the top 10 odds to win the event, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Odds to Win the Rocket Mortgage Classic
- Patrick Cantlay +800
- Will Zalatoris +1200
- Tony Finau +1400
- Max Homa +1400
- Cameron Young +1800
- Maverick McNealy +2500
- Adam Scott +2800
- Denny McCarthy +3500
- Cameron Davis +3500
- Kevin Kisner +3500
How to Handicap the Rocket Mortgage Classic
Detroit Golf Club is a true, textbook Donald Ross design.
For you non-golf nerds out there, a Donald Ross design is characterized by skinny, tree-lined fairways, and small greens with several false fronts.
I'm personally not a huge fan of Ross designed courses, especially for the PGA Tour. The top players in the world usually don't have many issues overpowering these types of tracks, and with their length off the tee, many of them are only left with wedge shots into the greens.
Strong play off-the-tee and being able to hit it in close from 50-125 yards away will be what wins the tournament this week.
5 Key Stats for the Rocket Mortgage Classic
- Strokes gained: off-the-tee
- Strokes gained: approach the green
- Approach proximity from 50-125 yards
- Strokes gained: around the green
- Strokes gained: putting
Picks to Win the Rocket Mortgage Classic
Cameron Young +1800
It's about time for this man to get a win.
He's been one of the better golfers on Tour this year, and he has four second place finishes including a runner-up finish at the Open Championship and a T3 at the PGA Championship.
What I like about him most this week is his play off the tee. He ranks second on the PGA Tour and first in the field in that stat, and strong drivers of the golf ball have won this event in the past. Cameron Davis ranked 32nd in the stat last year, and Bryson DeChambeau led the PGA Tour in it when he won here back in 2020.
Young is also fantastic with his wedges. He ranks T21 in proximity to the hole from 50-125 yards out. I'll back him to notch his first PGA Tour victory.
Chris Kirk +4000
Sticking with the theme of golfers who can drive the heck out of the ball, and can also stick it close with their wedges, Chris Kirk is my next pick to win in Detroit.
He ranks 21st on Tour in strokes gained: off-the-tee, and third on Tour, including first in the field in accuracy from 50-125 yards out. Additionally, he's been fantastic around the greens, ranking fourth in that category.
His only downfall is his putting, where he ranks 113th, but as I've always said, it's better to bet on a good ball striker and hope that he putts well, than a good putter and hope he putts well.
Kirk has played in this tournament the past two years. He finished 21st in 2020, and 12th in 2021.
Russell Henley +5500
Russell Henley isn't a great driver of the golf ball, but he's fantastic iron player and is a magician around the greens. He ranks third on Tour in strokes gained: approach, 10th in greens in regulation percentage, and ninth in proximity to the hole from 50-125 yards out.
I'll admit, he hasn't been in very good form in terms of results the past couple of months, but I'm willing to take a shot on him this week at a tournament that has a not-so-strong field.
You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.