PGA Betting Guide for the Rocket Mortgage Classic
Picking winners of a golf tournament is hard. Doing it consistently is downright impossible. But finding value is something all bettors must practice in order to give themselves the best chance to make hay when the day comes that they ping a champion.
Below, we will cover the best bets for the Rocket Mortgage Classic based on current form, course fit, and -- of course -- the value of their golf betting odds over at FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Rocket Mortgage Classic and the 3M Open joined the PGA Tour schedule in 2019 and so are constantly linked as Midwest summer events. We've seen some overlap in who contends at these courses, best explained in Matthew Wolff defeating runner-up Bryson DeChambeau at the 3M Open in 2019 and then DeChambeau topping Wolff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic the following year. With those names, defending champion Cameron Davis, and last week's winner Tony Finau, we can safely identify driving prowess as a leading indicator at both courses.
We'll complete our card this week by seeking ballstrikers and especially good drivers over short game specialists or precision players. Like TPC Twin Cities, Detroit Golf Club is ripe for the taking, and the question this week is which golfer will overpower the course en route to victory. Our bets are on a couple of young guns ready to break out.
For more info on Detroit Golf Club along with this week's key stats and Brandon Gdula's win simulations, check out his article.
At The Top
Patrick Cantlay (+1000) - This week's favorite is the clear choice at the top of the market, as a thin field behind him leaves much to be desired and only four other golfers shorter than 30/1 on FanDuel. After plowing through the Tour to the tune of four wins last season, Cantlay has been held out of the winner's circle this season, with the lone exception of the team event in New Orleans.
He leads the Tour in Top 10s with nine, and his recent form reads T8, T4, T13, T14, and T3 dating back to June. He's the class of the field and primed for a victory, and the defending FedEx Cup Champion can charge into the Playoffs with a win this week.
Cameron Young (+1600) - The number may cause a double take, but coming off a second-place finish at The Open -- his fourth runner-up of the season -- we need to strike while the iron is hot. Young also fits the bill with the driver this week, ranking second on Tour in strokes gained: off the tee and seventh in driving distance this season. He's been knocking on the door all season and is on the ascent. The only thing missing to cap off a stellar rookie season is a trophy.
Value Spots
Sahith Theegala (+3700) - Another rookie who has found himself in the mix multiple times this season, Theegala has five top 10s including close calls at the Phoenix Open, the Memorial, and the Travelers Championship. He's not quite what you'd call a mini-Cantlay, but in the same way, he's a well-rounded player with loads of potential if he can put the whole package together.
Both were in the mix at Scottsdale, Muirfield, and River Highlands, three courses that test the all-around game as much as any on Tour. Detroit Golf Club may prove too blunt an instrument, but Theegala's future is bright and he's earned a win this season almost as much as Young.
Davis Riley (+3700) - Our youth movement continues with Davis, one of the best values on the board coming off two disappointing events in a row. Before a missed cut in Minnesota and T64 at the Travelers, Riley was T31 at the U.S. Open, T13 at the Memorial, T4 at Colonial, T13 at the PGA Championship, T9 at the Byron National, and 5th at the Mexico Open.
That run is proof enough that he has the firepower to keep up at the birdie fests and the talent to hang with the world's best at big-time courses. He's top 50 on Tour in both strokes gained: off the tee and driving distance
Long Shots
Christopher Gotterup (+6000) - One more young masher for our card! Gotterup is an absolute beast, averaging 323.9 yards driving distance, which if he had enough events would qualify him to lead the Tour. He's converted this raw skill to pay dirt a few times this season, finishing 7th in Puerto Rico and 4th at the John Deere Classic.
A first-round 75 held him back at the 3M Open, but he rebounded nicely and comes in this week with confidence and good form. He can power his way into the mix in a way few in this field can match outside of Champ and Young, but the track record of closing is not quite there yet, and if he falls short we can get some insurance with a bet for a Top 10 Finish (+650).
Paul Barjon (+34000) - One bomb to close out our card. Barjon can mash and ranks 10th in strokes gained: off the tee this season. He has also started strong a few times this year, with four of his seven lowest rounds this season have come in the first round. He starts at 2:00 on Thursday and should get the benefit of good conditions and hot weather that really make the ball fly. Sprinkle on both the outright and save some for Leader After Round 1 (+16000).
