Rocket Mortgage Classic Odds in Michigan Favor DeChambeau

The PGA Tour is making its return to the mitten this weekend for the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic.

An event that debuted in 2019, this golf tournament has produced a lot of low scores and exciting golf.

With crowd limitations lifted, this could be the largest-attended Michigan sporting event since the pandemic began over a year ago.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic Rundown

The Rocket Mortgage Classic will be held for the third time in its brief history this week. Here’s all the info you need for this week’s PGA Event in Michigan.

Dates: July 1-4, 2021
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Course: Detroit Golf Club
Par: 72
Length: 7,294 yards
TV and streaming: Golf Channel, CBS
Prize pool: $7.5 million
First place share: $1.35 million
Defending champion: Bryson DeChambeau
Tickets: $60 Thursday, $70 Friday, $80 Saturday & Sunday

DeChambeau returns as the favorite

This week’s field isn’t quite stacked with name power, but still features some of the top names in golf.

Leading the way is 2020 winner, Bryson DeChambeau, who will be looking to successfully defend his title.

Oddsmakers see him as the clear favorite this week. DeChambeau is listed around +700-800 depending on the sportsbook. He is the only golfer listed with odds below +1000.

Here’s a look at the leading favorites entering Thursday’s first round according to DraftKings, FanDuel and PointsBet sports betting apps in Michigan.

Bryson DeChambeau: +750 (DK), +700 (FD), +800 (PB)
Patrick Reed: +1100 (DK), +1400 (FD), +1400 (PB)
Webb Simpson: +1800 (DK), +1600 (FD), +1600 (PB)
Hideki Matsuyama: +1800 (DK), +1600 (FD), +1800 (PB)
Joaquin Niemann: +2000 (DK), +2200 (FD), +2500 (PB)

Bryson falters at U.S. Open

DeChambeau is certainly the top name coming to Detroit. He is the highest-ranked golfer in the field, sitting sixth in the world right now.

However, Bryson hasn’t been giving the 2021 season he likely hoped for.

Through 14 events, he has missed just one cut, but has only four top-10 finishes. One is a victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational months ago.

The issues as of late for DeChambeau has been finishing strong. He was among the top contenders for the U.S. Open two weeks ago, but posted a 77 in the final round.

His last four events have seen him score a 70 or worse on Sunday, including a pair of 77s in the last two majors.

Last year, DeChambeau was able to use his elite driving power to make quick work of Detroit Golf Club. He posted a 66-67-67-65 total for a 265, 23 strokes under par. That bested the field by three shots.

Other big names to keep an eye on

Along with the favorites, this year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic also includes golfers like Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

Day (+3300 PB) scored his first top-10 in a few months at last week’s Travelers Championship. However, he has missed five cuts in 12 events for 2021. Day missed the cut in the 2020 event.

Watson (+4500 DK) has flirted with some strong play in recent weeks, but is still seeking his first top 5 in his last 14 tournaments. He also missed the cut in this event last year.

Fowler (+5000 DK) is in need of a boost, as he has missed six cuts out of 14 events in 2021, and has just one top-10 finish. He missed the cut last week, but placed eighth in the PGA Championship and 11th in the Memorial Tournament prior to that. Fowler finished 12th here last year.

Mickelson (+8000 DK) is coming off his historic PGA Championship victory in May, but has not cracked the top 60 in his last three events. Mickelson may be looking ahead to Tuesday’s The Match 4. He will be paired with Tom Brady, taking on DeChambeu and Aaron Rodgers.

Nate Lashley was the inaugural winner of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2019, beating the field by six strokes. It was Lashley’s last victory. He comes into this weekend as a +15000 longshot.

Weather could come into play

It’s been a week filled with storms and flooding around the Detroit area. The course is likely to be wetter than groundskeepers would like, and there’s a 50% chance of rain four of the next five days in the Detroit area.

While soft and wet conditions could limit how long some golfers like DeChambeau are able to play, it also softens the greens and allows players to really go after the pins.

Over the first two editions of this event, the winning score was well over 20-under-par. The cut both years was 4-under-par. That means that this course isn’t providing too much of a challenge for these golfers.