PGA Picks: Rocket Mortgage Classic Predictions and Betting Odds
This is the third Rocket Mortgage Classic, and this tournament welcomes back its defending champion, Bryson DeChambeau, who will tee off an overwhelming favorite.
This tourney is held at the Detroit Golf Club. And as long as it holds its spot in the rotation of two weeks before the British Open, it will have an opportunity to attract those players that want one more tune-up before what is now the last major or those trying to secure a spot in what is the PGA Tour playoffs in August, with FedEx Cup points.
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A full field is expected for fans of golf that love to see birdies and low scores.
A Look at the Field
Here is a look at the Top 12 with the lowest golf odds to win it all at online sportsbooks.
Bryson DeChambeau +700 - Patrick Reed +1400 - Hideki Matsuyama +1600
Webb Simpson +1600 - Will Zalatoris +2200 - Jason Kokrak +2200
Joaquin Niemann +2800 - Matthew Wolff +2800 – Gary Woodland +3300
Jason Day +3300 - Kevin Kisner +3300 - Sungjae Im +3300
DeChambeau is decided favorite as the defending champ. He was 23 under last year and overpowered the place. Detroit GC doesn’t have many ways to generate problems for the mad bomber, and it’s hard to go against.
Normally, if Reed is ripping his irons, he’s going to play well. However, his putting has given him some problems recently. That cannot last. However, does Reed find the flat stick magic here?
Matsuyama has been sticking his irons. And if he does that, he’ll have a chance to go low, because his scrambling and putting are only average.
We have our concerns about Simpson, Kokrak, Neimann and Wolff. Simpson has battled a neck problem. And though this course screams for him to contend, where is he physically?
Kokrak length could have him dominate the Par 5’s (1st in shots gained), yet if he’s missing greens, that’s all he’ll do. Neimann and Wolf are in the Top 10 for driving distance. Nonetheless, they have failed in many other areas and don’t look comfortable holding irons or with the putter. Could one of both breakout? Sure, but that’s a guess.
Zalatoris short game has been a disaster. At DGC, that might not matter for golf picks when using short irons to hit greens. Interesting choice.
Course Characteristics of Those Who Can Win or Secure Winning Golf Bets
With two tourneys under our belt in the Motor City, the winning scores have been -25 and -23. That tells everyone unless your intent is to hit low numbers for all four days, you are better to stay home and practice because too many pars are not going to cut it this week.
The course is a par 72 that plays to 7,370 yards, which today’s standards is at least one stroke too high. But that’s OK; this event is not intended to be the U.S. Open.
In spite of the low scores, this layout is not a true bomber's course. With an ample number of doglegs that are tree-lines. The landing areas for tee shots give these pros lots of latitude to park their shots to set up what is most important at DGC, the approach shot.
In the last two years, the greens in regulation average are absurdly high at 80+ percent, which tells you there are a lot of wedges and short irons hit for second shots. This layout also has four Par 5’s. And who scores the most under par on those holes over four days will be a contender.
The greens are sloppy. However, the area had five inches of rain last week, so they will be receptive to holding shots. The speed of the putting surfaces will be up to normal standards, just more likely to hold a line.
The rough will be thick around the greens after that much moisture, making it harder to save pars without getting close for those who hit errant shots.
Though considered a finesse course, those who attack and are on the hunt for birdies or eagles are those who will chase the big check.
Golf Picks: Who to Consider This Week
DeChambeau is a worthy choice to win, Top 5 and Top 10 and for head-to-head at -150 or lower (only because everything higher offers no value.)
Not every golfer has the skill and temperament to shoot really low numbers. Matsuyama and Niemann do and if they get rolling, an 8-under on a given day is very possible. A Top 10 is possible for one or both, and each looks like a Top 20 finisher.
If you are feeling a bit more frisky, Doc Redman has finished 2nd and T21st here. He’s been held back by driver problems. Thus, even if he’s relatively straight, he should have the confidence for a Top 20 finish.
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Doug Upstone of Doc’s Sports was in the golf business for over 20+ years and understands the ins and outs of what it takes to find winners on the Tour. Doug, the past five weeks has picked up $1,790 profit on the links.
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Doug Upstone of Doc’s Sports has - 21 Documented No. 1 Titles - 94 Documented Top 10 Finishes - 25 Handicapper of the Month Awards. (Latest: MLB May 2021) Doug as a professional handicapper/writer has written for various well-known sports betting websites and several football newsletters.