2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic Players to Watch

The PGA Tour rolls into the Motor City to play the rocket Mortgage Classic and the Detroit Golf Club.  As a side bar, any time you get an invite to a golf course named after the city in which it lies, most times than not, it will be a real treat (think LA Country Club, Milwaukee Country Club, St Louis Country Club), Detroit Golf Club is no exception. 

The issue is you have the best cats in the world teeing it up in uber warm weather and low scores are the result. When the heat is up, the ball will absolutely soar and the greens — especially in the Midwest — will be well watered to keep them alive.  Scottie is taking a week off and nobody is upset because now there is more beer for others. Read below for my 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic players to watch.

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Players to Watch

Taylor Pendrith (+4000)

Taylor Pendrith is a long shot this week and I love this guy.  I got to play with him a few years back and he absolutely smashes the golf ball.  He may hit 375 yard drives this week in Detroit. 

His short game has improved immensely, and he has quietly put together several nice years on the PGA Tour.  He ranks 30th in the Fed Ex Cup and 52nd in OWGR (whatever that means these days) and he has broken through with his initial victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.  

Robert MacIntyre (+4000)

Bobby Mac is another long shot this week.  He did the unthinkable a few weeks back when the Scotsman, without a caddie for the Canadian Open, phoned his greenskeeper father and said, “Hey come loop for me. I am sending you a ticket,” and guess what? WIN!

He wins his first PGA Tour event with his dad on the bag.  Do not forget his vital impact on the Euro side in last year’s Ryder Cup.  Again this guy is a sleeper.  If he makes a cut, he has nice finishes.  

Akshay Bhatia (+2000)

The man is a damn stud.  This former #1 amateur in the world decided to turn pro and not go to college.  Who does that in today’s game??  This kid does. 

He turned pro at 18 and continues to improve every week.  His putting is his weakest link, and it would not hurt for this walking stripe show is to gain some weight.  He is 6ft 1and, wait for it, 130 pounds. He barely casts a shadow. 

He has won twice on the PGA Tour, once on the European Tour and twice on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Maverick McNealy (+3000)

Mav is a great putter and to go low you need to be a great putter.  He has also added important length to his driver, which in today’s game is paramount to winning. 

Did I mention his father CEO of Sun MicroSystems? Has nothing to do with this but may help pressure wise knowing there is family money around (it sold in 2010 for $7.4 billion).