2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic: Top 10 power rankings at Detroit Golf Club

Stephan Jaeger hasn’t shot a round over par in 10 spins around Detroit Golf Club.

Unfortunately for the German, 2-under wasn’t enough to make the weekend in 2019.

After a stint on the Korn Ferry Tour, the East Tennessee State alum made it back to the PGA Tour and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2022. Jaeger carded 67-68-65-68 for solo fifth. It was one of his best career finishes on the PGA Tour to date and helped him secure his card for the next season.

Jaeger posted another top 10 in 2023. Rounds of 69-68-70-63 for T-9th.

“...if you hit fairways, it's not a hard golf course,” Jaeger was transcribed by Tee Scripts in 2022. “I think if you start hitting in the rough, it requires some more attention, which I've been doing well with hitting the fairways, which makes it a lot easier, for sure.”

Through June 16, Jaeger is 85th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy (61.99%). That’s up nearly four percentage points from 126th. He’s leaped 33 spots to 17th in driving distance (309.3 yards), gaining 10.5 yards in the process.

The 35-year-old’s swinging more free and easy, meaning a gain in clubhead speed hasn’t sacrificed accuracy. It’s why he’s now a top 50 player in the world after languishing as a journeyman for a decade-plus.

Jaeger’s recent form includes a pair of T-21sts at the Wells Fargo Championship and U.S. Open, as well as T-31st at last week’s Travelers Championship.

He broke through for his first PGA Tour victory this spring at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. Jaeger defeated runner-up Scottie Scheffler in a feat that grows more impressive by the day.

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