2024 PGA Picks: Rocket Mortgage Classic Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
The PGA Tour has been loaded with drama and action the past three weeks between the Memorial, U.S. Open, and the Travelers Championship. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was able to hold off Tom Kim in a playoff for his sixth victory of the ’24 campaign. Scheffler is the first golfer in the history of the PGA to have six wins before July 1st. Now the tour heads to Detroit for the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and most of the top golfers have taken this week off. Tom Kim, Cameron Young, and Min Woo Lee headline this field, while Rickie Fowler will look to become the first player to win this event in back-to-back years. Last year, Fowler defeated Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin in a playoff after all three players tied at 24-under-par. Expect a birdie barrage again this year, as Doc’s Sports will break down some of the best bets for this weekend below.
Get sports picks for every league and nearly every matchup on Doc’s free picks page.
A Look at the Field
Here is a look at the Top 12 and ties with the lowest golf odds to win it all at online sportsbooks
Tom Kim +1200 – Cameron Young +1600 – Min Woo Lee +2000 – Akshay Bhatia +2200
Stephan Jaeger +2500 – Alex Noren +2800 – Maverick McNealy +2800 – Aaron Rai +3000
Keith Mitchell +3000 – Will Zalatoris +3000 – Taylor Pendrith +3000 – Davis Thompson +3500
Course Characteristics of Those Who Can Win or Secure Winning Golf Bets
Detroit Golf Club will host the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and expect this track to play easy to the field. In the past five years the winning scores have been -24, -26, -18, -23, and -25. The course was designed by Donald Ross and has proven to be his easiest piece of golf real estate. The course plays as a par 72 and measures in at 7,370 yards. Detroit Golf Club is flat throughout and has no meaningful water hazards. Some of the holes have dense tree lines, but there should be no trouble off the tee. The greens are average size compared to other courses and feature a mix of Bentgrass/Poa. There are four par 5s, and four of the par 4s measure under 400 yards, which is where most of the scoring will be done. The only real concern for players is the 85+ bunkers, but the majority of them are avoidable.
Cameron Young +1600
It is finally time for Cam Young to collect his first PGA Tour victory this week in Detroit. He is arguably in a tier of his own this weekend, besides Tom Kim. Young has a bit of momentum on his side after firing a round of 59 on Saturday and ended up finishing T9 at the Travelers. Detroit Golf Club is all about success off the tee, and Young thrives with the driver. He ranks 10th in Total Driving, 21st in overall Birdie or Better Percentage, and 31st in Driving Distance. Young also has the best Strokes Gained: Total at DGC in his career out of everyone in the field. This seems like a steal at 16-1 odds for a guy that finished runner-up here in 2022.
Maverick McNealy +2800
Detroit Golf Club could be the perfect place for McNealy to capitalize and pick up his first-career PGA win. He tied for 23rd at the PGA Championship and has shown steady improvement with a tie for 17th at the Charles Schwab Challenge and a tie for seventh at the RBC Canadian Open. McNealy has been known for his strong short game, but his improvements with driving accuracy has led to these solid finishes. He has also had some decent success at this course in the past with a tie for eighth in 2020 and 21st in 2021. I will take a shot on McNealy at 28-1 this week.
Jake Knapp +12000
Knapp serves as a very solid option for a longshot victory this week in Detroit. He has four top-10 finishes and a victory at the Mexico Open. Knapp has not been at his best the past few weeks, but I will buy the high price tag as his ceiling remains the same. His game sets up perfectly for this course that should be a birdie-fest. He ranks 22nd on the Tour in Driving Distance, 10th in Ball Speed, 31st in Birdie or Better Percentage on par 5s, and 68th in SG: Putting. If he can make some putts on Thursday and Friday, he will be in the mix over the weekend.
Golf Picks: Who to Consider This Week:
To win: Young, McNealy, Knapp
Get expert sports picks on every game, or if you want our very best bet premium picks by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.