The PGA Tour comes into sharp focus this week as we inch ever closer to the coveted end of season FedEx Cup playoffs. There’s plenty up for grabs and the top 125 players who punch their ticket to the FedEx Cup playoffs will be given a two-year exemption on the tour.
Patrick Cantlay will assume top billing at the Detroit Golf Club for the Rocket Mortgage Classic as he is the highest-ranked player in field. Last weekend, Tony Finau collected his third PGA Tour title as he cruised to a three-stroke victory at the 3M Open, but as we know, claiming back-to-back wins at this level is notoriously tough.
But what should we look out for at the Rocket Mortgage Classic? Here are a few illuminating stats that are worth keeping at the forefront of your mind:
- The Detroit Golf Club has been revamped and it is now playing as a par 72 (7,370 yards).
- Cam Davis is the reigning champion after edging out Troy Merritt in a dramatic playoff where he won on the fifth hole.
- Two of the past three winners at the Rocket Mortgage Classic earned their maiden PGA Tour title in the process (Davis and Nate Lashley). Bryson DeChambeau, meanwhile, took the honors in 2020.
- Lashley holds the 72-hole record at this event (263).
As always, this PGA Tour event will be swarmed with plenty of lines at the most reputable US betting sites. To whet your appetite ahead of the first round, we have handpicked a few tips for you to gorge on.
Patrick Cantlay to romp home in style
Deemed the flattest course on the PGA Tour, precision with the irons will be key at the Detroit Golf Club. There will be plenty of birdie opportunities available on the front nine and this could play into Cantlay’s hands.
The mild-mannered American has gone from strength to strength this season, and as the reigning FedEx Cup playoff champion, he will be eager to lay down the gauntlet. While he has only chalked up one win on the PGA Tour so far this season (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), this shouldn’t take anything away from the fact that he has usually been in contention most weeks. Indeed, there have been nine top-10 finishes and he has been a model of consistency. A cursory glance at his stats shows he ranked 19th for strokes gained off the tee (.513), while he is also 19th for strokes gained putting (.521). Cantlay is good with his lag putts and there’s no obvious chink in his armor.
He could catch fire this week and he is a fabulous frontrunner. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him enter the winner’s circle and he could well be a wire-to-wire winner. If you fancy him to take the spoils, then he’s currently carrying tempting odds of +1000 with BetMGM.
Will Zalatoris zoning in on the top 10 again
If there’s one golfer that has grabbed our attention this season, then it is Will Zalatoris. The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to the controversial LIV Tour, but he has posted some excellent results this term. In the majors, he finished runner-up at the PGA Championship and the US Open, and he has registered 16 Top-10 finishes, so he looks in fine fettle.
While the Detroit Golf Club may not be laden with tricky pin positions, Zalatoris will go about his business with minimal fusss. His stats make for excellent reading, especially when you consider he’s first for strokes gained with his approach from the green (1.035) and he’s second for strokes gained from tee to green (1.826).
Arguably, the Rocket Mortgage Classic boasts a stronger field than the 3M Open and Zalatoris could claim another top-10 finish. He’s currently available at a short looking +140 with BetMGM to do so.
Cameron Young on the right track
For a PGA Tour rookie, Cameron Young has been making all the right noises. Well, a top-3 finish at The Open Championship suggested he’s on the right track to success. There are some departments that he has excellent in, including a birdie average of 4.35 so far this season, ranking him ninth on the tour. He has had a raft of top-10 finishes and he’s sitting comfortably in the FedEx Cup standings (13th).
This could well be another promising week in the fledging career of Young. He may not smash down the door this week, but a top-30 finish could well be on the cards, and SugarHouse is offering a price of -150 for him to do so.
