PGA TOUR Golf Sleepers: 4 Potential Rocket Mortgage Classic Longshot Picks
The PGA TOUR hits the road for the Motor City with no signs of scoring slowing down. Detroit Golf Club is next up to host the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, in an event that is sure to produce some of the lowest scores of the season. Birdie fests and longshots always go hand-in-hand, as even the players with the longest golf odds are capable of catching a hot putter for four rounds. Last week’s PGA TOUR golf sleepers article identified Chez Reavie as a top value play, who made his way into the final Sunday pairing. So we’ll look to continue the momentum into the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
The Detroit Golf Club scorecard and course specs show it’s attackable for both bombers and plodders alike, and without an imposing favorite headlining the field, it truly feels open for the taking. With a formula of plus-distance, elite wedge play, spike putting upside, and performance on comp, easy scoring conditions, there are plenty of viable longshot options to consider for the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
GOLF BETTING BONUS CODES
If you are new to golf betting or do not have an account at one of the options below, consider locking in one of the best sportsbook promo codes from our partners in your state. For many, if your first bet loses, you will receive it back in bonus bets.
DETROIT GOLF CLUB INTRODUCTION
Newly added to the PGA TOUR schedule in 2019, the centuries-old Donald Ross design has proven to be one of the easiest scoring tests of the year. While it’s rightfully developed a reputation as a bomber’s paradise early on, it’s not long enough as a 7,370-yard par-72 to deter the shorter hitters in the field from contending either. They’ve just needed to lean a little extra on their putting to hang around here.
Prior to this week, it was looking like we might finally see some resistance from Detroit Golf Club for the first time in its brief four-year tournament history, as a record dry Spring had us poised for a firmer and faster test. Unfortunately, that all went by the wayside after the Detroit area was showered with heavy rainfall in tournament week. Now, it will be as receptive as ever, accentuating the advantage for the longest hitters, and sure to offer even less of a challenge for scoring than last week’s Travelers Championship.
Under these conditions, we should expect the winning score to push close to 30-under par. Without much resistance from tee-to-green at Detroit Golf Club, this is the perfect week to take a chance on longshots, especially when considering that two of the first four winners have opened beyond 150-1 odds.
For a deeper dive into the course, read my Rocket Mortgage Classic preview. Let’s get to our 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic picks, with a focus on longshots and PGA TOUR golf sleepers for your DFS lineups.
PGA TOUR GOLF SLEEPERS: ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC
From a betting perspective, it’s the first week in several months that lacks an imposing favorite at the top of the board. I don’t feel compelled to bet any of the top-tier players this week, so instead, I’m embracing the volatility that comes with a birdie fest putting contest and will be staking my bets behind a wide list of longshots.
In terms of DFS, I see myself building a more balanced lineup construction in the same spirit of fading many of this week’s favorites. While I won’t be digging too far into the bottom of this field, each of the below players will be staples in my DFS lineups this week.
Below, find my favorite value PGA TOUR golf sleepers and longshots for the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic. Stats pulled across Last 36 Rounds unless otherwise noted. Each player is listed with best price in Rocket Mortgage Classic odds.
Joseph Bramlett (, $7,600)
Ahead of the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic, you could find a bomber with solid all-around form and spike putting upside at the same price in Taylor Pendrith. That profile fit paid off handsomely with a T2 finish last year, so with Pendrith taking a step backwards more recently, Joseph Bramlett slots in nicely as the new bomber of the week.
Over his last six starts, Bramlett has impressed with three top-20 finishes, all coming on driver-heavy tracks between the Memorial, AT&T Byron Nelson, and Mexico Open. Detroit Golf Club will continue to allow Bramlett to lean on the strength of his game: his driver. He ranks No. 5 in Driving Distance and No. 17 in SG: Ball Striking over the last 36 rounds. While his putter has held him back in the early stages of his career, he proved he can spike in a birdie fest, gaining 5+ strokes putting at TPC Craig Ranch four starts ago.
The only player in this field to rank top-25 in both Driving Distance and Prox: <100 yards, Bramlett is perfectly equipped to capitalize on a bomb and gouge game plan at Detroit GC.
- Join TheLines free golf betting Discord channel with more than 4,300 community members discussing sports betting 24-7-365.
Mark Hubbard (, $7,500)
With the greater Detroit area receiving an influx of rainfall tournament week, the prevailing narrative is expected to shift towards backing the bombers on a soft and easy course. That may help Hubbard’s case from an ownership standpoint, but shorter hitters who can spike with their irons and putting have proven just as capable of going low at Detroit GC.
Hubbard has proven to be at his best in birdie fests, as he ranks top-10 in SG: TOT (Easy Scoring Conditions), Birdies or Better Gained, and Comp Course History. That’s driven him up to No. 11 in my model this week, the highest of any $7K player on this Draft Kings slate. Encouraging for this week, Hubbard’s irons continue to trend, as he’s gained multiple strokes on approach in seven of his last eight starts. He’s spiked for over seven strokes gained in three starts over that span leading to recent top-10 finishes at the RBC Canadian Open and Charles Schwab Challenge.
A T12 finisher at the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic, Hubbard has all the tools needed to go low on one of the easiest course set ups on TOUR.
Adam Schenk (, $7,300)
I would not have thought twice if Adam Schenk opened at 50-1 outright odds and $8K on Draft Kings. So to see him available at nearly double those betting odds and in the low-$7K range in DFS, Schenk is easily my favorite value on the board this week.
You could not draw up a more quintessential fit for Adam Schenk’s game than the conditions in store at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. A driver-heavy birdie fest in the mid-west against a moderate field is the perfect recipe for the Iowa native to chase down his first career PGA TOUR win. He is one of just five players this week to rank above-average in SG: Ball Striking, SG: Short Game, Birdies or Better Gained, Driving Distance, and Course & Comp Course History. Generally speaking, if you can gain on the field in those key areas, you’re likely to find yourself in the mix at Detroit Golf Club.
It’s been a career-best 2023 campaign for Schenk who’s already come close with a pair of runner-up finishes this season. With two top-10s over his last four starts, Schenk has a compelling opportunity to contend for his first win this week.
Jimmy Walker (, $6,600)
I had to do a double take on this one, but the stats confirm, only nine players in the Rocket Mortgage Classic field drive it farther than the 44-year-old, Jimmy Walker. It’s possible the 2016 PGA Champion may have rekindled some inspiration from watching the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at the same site of his victory last week. And if we give him a pass for being distracted by the events at Baltusrol and overlook his MC at The Travelers, Walker heads to Detroit with just one other MC over his last seven starts.
The two things Walker does best are driving it far and sinking putts, and when it comes down to it, that’s really all that matters on a course like Detroit Golf Club which offers such little resistance. He is the only player in this field to rank top-20 in Driving Distance, Par-5 Scoring, and SG: Putting.
Already posting five top-25 finishes in 2023, there’s still plenty of upside in the tank for the veteran at this discounted price.
Best of luck if you choose to bet these PGA TOUR golf sleepers!
ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC ODDS
Shop the odds at the best sports betting sites for PGA TOUR golf sleepers and more highly-touted players here, including for top 10, top 20, etc.
RELATED ARTICLES
