Rocket Mortgage Classic: Power ranking the top 10 at Detroit Golf Club

The Rocket Mortgage Classic is this week in Detroit where some big names have assembled for the tournament’s inaugural edition.

For fantasy players and bettors who love to rely on course form, the next two weeks are not for you. Next week the PGA Tour heads to the Twin Cities for the 3M Open, a new stop that replaces the senior event held at TPC Twin Cities for years. First things first, the Tour kicks off its Midwest swing with a trip to the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic.

This tournament replaces the Quicken Loans National on the schedule, which was held often in the Washington D.C. metro.

This is the Tour’s first trip to Michigan since the Buick Open (1958-2009) concluded a decade ago in Flint.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic’s venue is Detroit Golf Club, a 36-hole venue established in 1989 and designed by Donald Ross.

The tournament will use 17 holes from the North Course and one hole from the South. A unique routing will be used as just six holes will play where they’re at originally on the scorecard.

Over 300 yards have been added to make this a par 72 measuring at 7,300 yards.

While there is no course history to go off this week, looking for players with success at Donald Ross courses (East Lake, Pinehurst, Sedgefield, Aronimink) is a good place to start.

A Ross course values a variety of different shots, both approaching and around the greens. The rough is generally not high, but closely mown areas and severely sloping greens still require a good short game and accurate ball striking.

The early weather forecast looks hot with highs in the 80’s and some rain, perhaps in the middle of the tournament. Whether wet or not, this isn’t a particularly long course and I expect a lot of types of players to stand a chance this week.

World No. 2 Dustin Johnson and U.S. Open champ Gary Woodland headline what otherwise is a so-so field for a mid-summer event. Whether for rest or a preference for last week’s Travelers Championship, or the 3M, has put the squeeze on the field this week in Detroit.

Event organizers held out hope Tiger would make a late commitment, but no such luck. It wouldn’t be a big surprise if we don’t see Big Cat again until the Open Championship.

Who needs him anyway? Here are 10 other players who could put on a show and contend this week at Detroit Golf Club: