Best PGA Picks this Week for the Rocket Classic

A revamped Detroit Golf Club hosts a strong field for this week’s Rocket Classic.

The course underwent a renovation since last year and now plays as a par 70. Holes seven and 17 were changed to par 4s as opposed to gettable par 5s in years past.

Current golf odds price Cameron Young (+1200) as the favorite to win. He’s followed on the odds board by Chris Gotterup (+1800), Jackson Koivun (+1800) and Xander Schauffele (+2000).

Including those players, 10 sit inside +3000 to win this week at the Donald Ross design.

Best Rocket Classic Picks

Jake Knapp (+2800)

The price admittedly leaves something to be desired in a stronger field compared to last week. But I’m encouraged enough by Knapp’s Minnesota metrics to see an optimistic case.

Knapp gained 2+ SG: Ball Striking in three of his four 3M Open rounds. The tournament culminated with a +5.3 SG: BS round, which accounted for 80% of his round four SG total.

The Sunday 62 earned Knapp a T-13th, his first top-20 since the Masters.

While he missed the cut at the Open Championship and Scottish Open, he posted good ball-striking metrics too.

In fact, he ranks fifth in SG: BS over his last eight rounds, including seventh in SG: APP. His data also skews due to a -2.2 SG: TOT output in his opening Scottish Open round.

Lastly, while I’m not placing a ton of emphasis on course history, it’s still nice to see Knapp finished T-4th here last year.

J.J. Spaun (+3500)

Spaun showed radical consistency with his iron play lately. Dating back to March 11, he gained strokes in 81% of his 48 measured rounds on approach, best in this field.

He simultaneously spiked to at least +1 SG: APP in 49% of those rounds. It qualifies as the best mark amongst players that partook in at least 20 measured rounds.

Already a winner at the Valero Texas Open this year, Spaun ranks sixth in SG: TOT over the last three months.

Broaden the sample size and the 2025 U.S. Open champion continues to impress. He ranks third in scoring opportunities inside 15 feet over the last six months and 12th in Par 4 Efficiency.

At second in my mixed condition model, Spaun offers a higher win equity in my estimation compared to these odds.

Johnny Keefer (+6600)

Keefer offers extreme volatility, but he already posted a pair of podium finishes this season. It makes him an interesting flier at these odds at 13th in my model.

Keefer missed the cut last week at TPC Twin Cities. However, three penalty shots doomed his chances, despite a Friday 66 after shooting 76 on Thursday.

He still ranks 22nd in SG: TOT over the last three months despite last week’s finish. Additionally, we’ve seen a decent spike approach potential since the end of May.

Dating back to the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Keefer gained on approach in 68% of rounds. He also cleared 2+ SG: APP in 18% of his 28 rounds and 4+ in 7.1% (3rd-best in this field).

Pair those factors with a 21st-placed rating in total driving over the last six months, and I predict Keefer contends this week in Detroit.

Cameron Young Top-10 Finish + Ties (+138)

Young recovered nicely from a poor spell with a runner-up finish at the Open Championship. In the process, he gained +2.4 SG: Ball Striking, his second-best output of the season.

The Wake Forest alum showed that when he discovers ball-striking form, he tends to keep it.

From the Genesis Invitational to the Masters, he never dipped below +1.6, including three straight north of +2.

Now he arrives at a track where he’s recorded two top-10 finishes in three starts.

A switch from a par-72 to a par-70 should favor Young’s total driving acumen – he ranks second in the field over the last six months. He also leads the field in Par 4 Efficiency (last six months).

Most encouraging about Young? His iron play. He gained on approach in all but one event since the Genesis. His +1.25 at Royal Birkdale marked his best output since the Players.

Those factors lead me to predict a second straight top-10 finish for Young.