RADIO
Michael Brennan Needs Short-Game Improvement at Rocket Classic
Michael Brennan was well in the mix heading into Sunday at the 3M Open, but ultimately struggled, losing more than five total strokes on the final day to finish T24. He now turns to the Rocket Classic, where he is making his tournament debut. Brennan ranks 86th in total strokes gained (+0.064 per round), second off the tee (+0.739), 60th on approach (+0.213), and third in driving distance, all areas that are important at Detroit Golf Club. The biggest concern remains his short game, where he loses more than 0.8 strokes per round combined around the green and putting. At $7,900 on DraftKings, Brennan's elite driving gives him plenty of upside, as long as his short game doesn't hold him back.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Hideki Matsuyama Looks to Continue FedEx Cup Push at Rocket Classic
There was too much ground to make up on Sunday at the 3M for Hideki Matsuyama, who had his best finish since February with a T3. He continues to dismantle courses with his short game, averaging 2.05 strokes gained around the greens. This led the field by a wide margin, but the downside is that it's due to over two and a half strokes he lost on approach for the week. It was just the third time he lost strokes with his approach play in his last 12 events. He'll make his sixth appearance at the Rocket Classic this week, but like everyone else, he'll be seeing this redesigned Detroit Golf Club for the first time. The focus on making missed greens more penalizing plays right into the 34-year-old's wheelhouse. As long as the putter doesn't let him down, he will be another high-value fantasy asset.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Jackson Koivun Looks to Continue Winning Ways at Rocket Classic
Seeing the guts and poise from Jackson Koivun on Sunday at the 3M Open validated the thoughts many had when he began his professional journey just a few weeks ago. He staved off the number one player in the world and went bogey-free over his rounds on the weekend to claim his first PGA Tour victory, leading the field in strokes gained on approach (2.34) and ranking third in strokes gained putting (1.60). Even at 21 years of age, he looks to be as complete a player as any other mid-to-top-level PGA Tour talent right now. It's still too early to tell how well his game travels to different course setups, and a pure Donald Ross design this week at the Detroit Golf Club is much different than last week in Minnesota. But he did finish T23 at this year's US Open at Aronimink, another Ross design. Look for the youngster to continue his incredible play this week.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Michael Kim Needs More Magic at Rocket Classic
After posting an incredible 59 in Friday's second round at the 3M Open, Michael Kim came crashing back to reality over the weekend to fall into a tie for 10th place. In one round, he was able to gain over six and a half strokes on the greens, but failed to gain them in any of the other three rounds. Even with posting minuscule rounds under par over the weekend, he averaged negative total strokes gained over the weekend. He'll be making his sixth career start at the Rocket Classic this week, a venue where the 33-year-old hasn't found much success. The added length and difficulty on and around the greens since last year's $16.1 million renovation at Detroit Golf Club also don't do Kim any favors. Just because he had one historical round doesn't change the fact that he has been and still is a DFS liability.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Ben James Looking to Bounce Back at Rocket Classic
After a great beginning to his PGA Tour journey, Ben James had an off week in Minnesota. The 23-year-old lost nearly three strokes on approach over his two days before missing the cut. He'll have a quick chance to turn things around this week in Detroit, where he should have a better chance to play more to his strengths in long-iron play and putting, which has averaged 0.477 strokes gained over his last four starts. The only worrisome thing for James is his short game around a redesigned and replaced greens and surrounding areas at Detroit Golf Club. Still, he has shown plenty of talent and could get back on track at a layout everyone will be getting used to. The ceiling is high for those who can stand the volatility.
Source: Data Golf
Source: Data Golf
Chris Gotterup the Arguable Favorite at Rocket Classic
After his win at the John Deere Classic, Chris Gotterup carried that over the pond for good showings at both the Scottish Open and Open Championship. He'll be making what is presumably his final start this week in Detroit before the playoffs begin. The 27-year-old is making his fourth appearance at the Rocket Classic, where he hasn't had the best showings in his three previous times despite fitting the bill for the type of player that has thrived here. This course has had a major facelift from last season, which includes new greens, more penalizing areas for missing them, and being restructured to a par-70 after eliminating two par 5s. This could effectively suit Gotterup even more with long iron play and driving efficiency become even more important. Look for him to better his past finishes this week.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
Davis Thompson Sluggish Around the Green and Putting
Davis Thompson finished T-7 at the 3M Open last week. The American golfer struggled with his putter and around the green again for a fourth straight event. However, it did not cost him in Minnesota as it had at the US Open. Thompson can be dangerous when he puts it all together in Detroit as he finished T-2 in 2024 after gaining 2.57 strokes overall. The golfer was on a nice run then. Finding that consistency has been more of a challenge in 2026. Thompson has made cuts in 11 of the 18 events he has entered and three Top-10 efforts. It might be wise to wait and see how Thompson fares on Thursday and Friday before considering a wager.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Russell Henley Playing Well Heading into Detroit
Russell Henley did not have the best U.S. Open. The American golfer bounced back by contending at the Travelers Championship and The Open Championship. Henley wound up T-9 overseas behind an impressive 68-66 weekend. If one is wondering, Henley's putter is the key along with superior driver accuracy. The latter has been prevalent in four of his past five events. Henley's driver accuracy was 10+% more accurate compared to the rest of the field. Detroit will be a challenge given its 7,370 yard length. However, Henley once had a Top-10 without putting well in 2022. Henley could be worth a look in betting circles for this weekend.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Eric Cole has Slipped in Form Since Memorial Tournament
Eric Cole enjoyed back-to-back top-10 results and looked primed for the summer. Instead, the American golfer missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open. The struggles have continued for Cole as he has finished outside the top 30 in four more events. His putter has been OK but not great. Cole has not putted like a top-10 golfer over the past five tournaments. This is despite ranking second in putts per round at 27.75. Cole could bounce back at any time, but the uncertainty is at least enough to consider fading him from a betting and DFS point of view.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Chandler Phillips is Rolling with Detroit Golf Club Looming
Chandler Phillips has been on quite the roll since the US Open missed cut. The American golfer followed consecutive T-15 finishes with a season-best T-3 at the 3M Open. Phillips has now gone under 70 in 12 straight rounds. Phillips' biggest improvement comes via putting where he ranks 18th in strokes gained at 0.450. Last year that was just barely in the red. Furthermore, his 27.56 putts per round and 45.78% one-putt percentage can keep him in a high-birdie event like Detroit. At the least, Phillips will be on many radars for DFS users and might even be worth a look to contend especially if he can keep his drives on the fairway more often.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Nicolai Hojgaard Tries to Settle Down the Roller Coaster in Detroit
Nicolai Hojgaard truly is trying to get into a rhythm. The Danish golfer missed three straight cuts, looked good in two straight events, and then missed the cut at The Open Championship. It comes down to making enough birdies and especially this week in Detroit. Detroit Golf Club is a place where the putter needs to be working. The problem is that Hojgaard has lost strokes to putting in four of his previous six events. Hojgaard has performed good enough at the Rocket Classic with two Top-30 results. This would be an event where the golfer from Denmark has a chance to be a factor from a betting standpoint. Top-20 bets are currently at plus money.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Rickie Fowler Showing Good Form Heading into Rocket Classic
Rickie Fowler has played some solid golf over the past three tournaments. The American golfer has two Top-10 results including a T-18 at The Open Championship. Fowler had been in a bit of a funk after nearly winning the Truist Championship back in May (T-2). Fowler can run hot and cold but has improved his driver accuracy to 63.16% in 2026 (36th). Even his putting ranks 40th in strokes gained which is predicated on good starts. Fowler can easily be a DFS factor this week as he did win this event three years ago. The only red flag is if he starts missing putts, then making the cut could be in question.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Jacob Bridgeman Trying to Get Closer to Win Column in Detroit
Jacob Bridgeman won The Genesis Invitational way back in February. The American golfer has not cracked the top 10 since the start of the spring despite some solid results. Bridgeman has only missed one cut in 19 events and does have nine top-25 results. This is because he is one of the best putters again on tour in 2026. Bridgeman ranks third in strokes gained putting (0.675). His scoring average overall ranks 29th at 69.58, and his birdie average (4.28) ranks eighth. Normally, his driving is pretty solid and accurate, but his distance has been slightly below-average over the past five events. Despite that, Bridgeman has the putter to stay in an event like the Rocket Classic, where birdies get made often.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Akshay Bhatia Returns to Action at the Rocket Classic
Akshay Bhatia took a little time off after missing the cut at The Open Championship. The American golfer has had some success at Detroit Golf Club. He finished just outside the Top 25 in 2025 and T-2 in 2024. This golf course is a Par-72 and stands at 7,370 yards. Bhatia needs to be more accurate off the tee (58.15% accuracy - 104th). He leads all golfers on tour with 0.681 strokes gained for putting. The golf course in Detroit will yield birdies and Bhatia ranks 8th in birdie-or-better percentage at 35.33%. Bhatia usually rebounds well after missing cuts in 2026 so he is someone to keep on the radar from a betting perspective this week.
Source: PGATour.com
Source: PGATour.com
Sungjae Im Hoping The Open Sparks a Turnaround in Approach Play
Sungjae Im put together his most complete week of the season at The Open Championship, finishing T14 while gaining strokes throughout the bag. His biggest issue this year has been approach play, where he lost strokes in 13 straight events before gaining +1.65 at Royal Birkdale. He now looks to carry that momentum into the 3M Open, where he had finishes of T15 and T2 in his first two appearances before missing the cut in his last two trips here. Im ranks 59th off the tee (+0.146 strokes per round), 47th in putting (+0.180), and 14th around the greens (+0.345). As mentioned, the concern remains his irons, where he ranks just 150th on approach (-0.672) and 127th in proximity from 175-200 yards, a range that accounted for 22% of approach shots here last year. At $8,500 on DraftKings, Im offers plenty of upside, but fantasy managers will have to decide whether The Open was the start of an approach turnaround or simply a teaser of what could be.
Source: PGA Tour
Source: PGA Tour
