2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Top 10 power rankings at Detroit Golf Club

Joaquin Niemann didn’t return to the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2020, but he can summon up some good vibes from his tournament debut at the inaugural edition in 2019.

The young Chilean finished T-5th (68-66-69-68) as a 20-year-old in his second year on the PGA Tour. It was a sign of things to come as Niemann won later that summer at the Greenbrier.

Niemann made no double bogeys or worse at Detroit Golf Club and was 11th in the field in strokes gained approach (1.27) in 2019.

Now 22, Niemann has come close to adding to his win total. He was runner up at both Hawaii events this January.

He comes to Michigan playing for the third event in a row and seeking his third straight top-40. Niemann was T-31st at the U.S. Open and T-36th at the Travelers Championship.

He had a streak of 13 stroke play cuts made going until the Memorial Tournament in June.

Niemann is small in stature but is flexible and can sting the ball with his low ball flight. That’s not the ideal flight for a wet golf course expected this week, though he’ll still find a way to contend.

Niemann is 12th in SG off the tee (.585) and 32nd in SG putting (.439). He’s also 16th in birdie average (4.21) without risking too much to still land at eighth in scoring average (69.885).

Short game is his weakness. While he won’t get as much yardage off the tee this week, those Donald Ross sloping greens may have less teeth and wayward shots may not run away quite so much.