The PGA Tour arrives at Detroit Golf Club this week for the Rocket Mortgage Classic, a pivotal event as the circuit marches toward the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The tournament, scheduled from July 30 to August 2, features a field of high-powered drivers facing a recently transformed course in the Motor City.
The Shift from Par 72 to Par 70 at Detroit Golf Club
The Detroit Golf Club has undergone a significant structural evolution following a restoration by Tyler Rae. This project shifted the course from a Par 72 to a Par 70, incorporating significant tree removal, repositioned bunkes , and brand-new greens on the North Course, which was originally a Donald Ross design. This change comes after years of historically low scoring that saw the field tear through the layout.
As the tournament preview notes, five of the last seven editions featured a winning score of -22 or better. The scoring has been remarkably low, including a 22-under winning score in 2025 and even more extreme results like -26 and -24 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The new Par 70 configuration is a direct response to this scoring volatility.
Gotterup and Young’s Driving Edge on Narrow Fairways
Navigating the 7,328-yard layout will require elite distance, particularly because fairways narrow to approximately 26 yards at the 300-yard carry mark. Chris Gotterup is positioned as a premier outright pick due to his "elite" tee game, ranking sixth in driving diistance and ninth in strokes gained off the tee. Gotterup,who has recorded back-to-back Top 20s, possesses the well-rounded game necessary to match his driving skills.
Cameron Young also presents a major threat to the field, ranking 12th in strokes gained off the tee and fifth in total driving. Young’s ability to control the ball was evidenced in 2022 when he led the field in true strokes gained off the tee. For these players, pairing that driving power with precise approach play will be the deciding factor in separating contenders from the chasers.
Billy Horschel’s Putting Slump and Ben Kohles’ Momentum
While driving is paramount, the ability to finish holes remains a volatile factor for the field. Billy Horschel enters the week with strong approach play, having gained strokes on approach in seven consecutive starts, yet he faces a significant hurdle with his short game. According to the report, Horschel's putter is "ice-cold," ranking 130th in the field over the last month.
In contrast, Ben Kohles brings significant momentum to Detroit after a scorching 9-under 62 at the 3M Open. That performance allowed Kohles to take a two-shot lead after the first round last week, making him a player to watch as the field settles into the Detroit Golf Club layout.
Will the Tyler Rae renovations hold back the scoring?
Despite the move to a Par 70, it remains to be seen if the new course configuration can actually prevent another runaway scoring performance. The source highlights that recent winning scores have reached as low as -26, but it does not explicitly confirm if the new greens and repositioned bunkers will be enough to slow the field down. Furthermore , while the course has been renovated, the report leaves open whether the specific challenges of the narrow 26-yard fairways will be enough to offset the advantage held by the league's longest hitters.
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