The PGA Tour hosts the Rocket Mortgage Classic 2021, which has a strong field with some top players in contention this week. It’s one of the newest golf tournaments on the schedule and is played at the Detroit Golf Club.
Last week, one of our top 10 finish tips won the tournament as Harris English claimed the Travelers Championship in a playoff. This isn’t the first time this has happened for us this season and, while it’s a nice return, it would be good to go one better this time. So keep reading for our Rocket Mortgage Classic predictions and betting picks for this preview.
Bryson DeChambeau won the 2020 edition of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Scientist is back this year to defend his title. Bryson claimed the trophy by three clear shots from Matthew Wolff and he is the clear favorite this week at a general 7/1 with America’s leading online bookies.
His form may be patchy but DeChambeau is the best golfer here. The course may suit his power game and that’s reflected in the market.
Patrick Reed is next up at an average of around 10/1. He tied for fifth at the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2019 but is lacking consistency. He has recorded five top 10 finishes in 2021 but has yet to produce them in consecutive tournaments.
Hideki Matsuyama and Webb Simpson come next in the sportsbooks’ lists of odds with both men on offer at a best of 18/1. Simpson tied for eighth in the 2020 edition of this event but returns on the back of a missed cut at the US Open.
Matsuyama will attract shorter odds through the season following his win at the Masters but he has yet to really threaten the top of the leaderboard since April.
Will Zalatoris is next at a general price of 22/1. Zalatoris ranks well in some relevant stats this week and, having promised so much in the last 12 months, it could be time for a breakthrough victory.
Other golfers in this section include Jason Kokrak and Joaquin Niemann at 25/1, Matthew Wolff and Jason Day at 30/1, plus Sungjae Im and Kevin Kisner at 33/1. Of those names, Wolff has that runner-up slot behind DeChambeau in 2020 and will attract interest on the back of that finish.
There should be some value in this type of mixed field and the outsiders start this week with Charley Hoffman at 40/1, followed by Cameron Tringale, Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley at 45/1. Bubba’s demise on Sunday night was hard to watch but he remained in contention for his fourth Travelers Championship title over much of the four days. He can succeed this week but it all depends on how he responds to that poor finish.
Further back, Gary Woodland looks finally to be over his recent injury scares and is attracting interest at a best of 55/1. Also on offer at 55/1 is the promising Garrick Higgo while Doc Redman and Rickie Fowler are both listed at a top price of 60/1.
Redman was the runner up at the first Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2019 while, more recently, a tie for second place at Congaree three weeks ago could make him a contender once again.
Other names to take into account at longer odds include Max Homa at 66/1, Brandt Snedeker at 80/1, Alex Noren at 90/1 and Phil Mickelson at 100/1.
Our Preview’s Rocket Mortgage Classic Predictions, Picks & Course & Betting Trends
The Rocket Mortgage Classic has only been on the schedules since 2019 when it came along to replace the now defunct Quicken Loans National. Two years doesn’t offer a lot in terms of trends and indicators but both tournaments have been very low scoring. Nate Lashley won with an aggregate of -25 in 2019 while Bryson DeChambeau followed up with -23 a year later.
Detroit Golf Club in Michigan is our host and the course offers a par 72 at a fraction under 7,300 yards. There is some reward available for the distance hitters at times and one of the most notable features of the course is the par 5 fourth hole which registers at 635 yards. Only four eagles were recorded in the 2019 edition of the Rocket Mortgage Classic
We think of Bryson DeChambeau as the muscle man but some of his key stats in 2020’s victory were more delicate. He averaged 14 Greens in Regulation across the four rounds and he led the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. One man who can replicate that in 2021 is Will Zalatoris.
He has made a mark with some strong finishes at the Majors but now needs to succeed in fields like this where some of the big names are absent. He has good relevant statistics, ranking ninth in Par-5 Scoring, and ninth in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green.
If he can find some better touch with the putter, Zalatoris can deliver for us this week at some generous odds. So these are our predictions:
- Will Zalatoris to win @ +2800 (28/1) with Bookmaker. He is 22/1 with most others.
- Top 10 finish wagers (odds from BetOnline in brackets): Zalatoris (+300), Gary Woodland (+450), Jason Kokrak (+300) and Max Homa (+400).
Matt Harris is a golf and soccer expert for USA Betting. His other area of specialist knowledge is cricket. He is well known in sports journalism and contributes articles to a plethora of big-name websites and media outlets. Titles that he writes or has written for include: Betfair, BetVictor, Unibet & Just Bookies.