Power Rankings: Rocket Mortgage Classic

Third time’s the charm after a T4 in Connecticut. MC in the inaugural RMC after winning the Travelers in 2019. MC’d again in 2021 after a mini-surge. His second-round scoring average at Detroit GC is 9½(!) strokes higher than it is in R1.

As a sharpshooter from tee to green, the Brit always tantalizes, but he arrives for his tournament debut with pep in his step after a T3 in Canada and a T24 in Connecticut. Also placed T12 at Colonial a month ago. Benefited by small greens.

Dutifully delivered a T14 in his title defense here last year, and that included a second-round 73, the highest score of everyone inside the top 15. His skill set fits the profile of Detroit GC, but he can shift into another gear with the putter.

The first and third editions of the RMC crowned first-time winners on the PGA TOUR. The rookie has been on a tear since his own close call at TPC Craig Ranch. Take it back two months and he’s 7-for-7 with a T2, a T10 and a T24.

The 33-year-old has been flirting with leaderboards regularly over the last four months. A pair of podium finishes have helped the most to lift him to 35th in the FedExCup, but he’s also only a week removed from a T8 at the U.S. Open.

Once he pierces the turf, the competitive juices will flow anew, but no doubt the concern of an emotional letdown is in play. Still, he’s bouncing from one race course to the next, and he’s 3-for-3 with a T14 (in 2021) at Detroit GC.

Hasn’t yet electrified U.S.-based crowds since his victory in his native South Korea in mid-May, but he still registered four sub-70s at TPC River Highlands for a T29. He’s 3-for-3 at Detroit GC with a personal-best T8 in his last trip in 2021.

Perhaps caught up in the cross-country travel after a T14 at LACC and prep for the Travelers, he’s certain to be licking his chops for his debut at Detroit GC after a second-round 63 at TPC River Highlands despite missing that cut.

Keeps on keepin’ on even though he sat out a month post-Masters to rest a sore neck. He cashed in all nine starts bridging the gap, five of which going for a top 20, including a T13 at TPC River Highlands. Two top 25s at Detroit GC.

Seeking his first payday in his third appearance at Detroit GC, but as odd as it seems, he’s signed for a red number after every round, anyway. First visit in three years, too, and now with the rush of a sparking T2 at the Travelers.

Gets benefit of the doubt in the short-term, especially after missing the cut at LACC. Also missed the Travelers cut by one despite a second-round 65. Resetting for Detroit GC where he’s 3-for-3 with two top 25s and a scoring average of 69.25.

Seventh in debut last year when he was still going by his birth name, Joohyung. Closed with a field-low 63, and then went on to win the next week at Sedgefield when Tom was born in earnest. Tee-to-green specialist with scorer’s aggression.

The tournament debutant is fresh off a T9 at TPC River Highlands where he was striking his irons with the vintage of 2021-22. Led the field in proximity from the fairway and par-3 scoring. Second in SG: Approach-the-Green.

It’d be unfair to expect him to match last year’s brilliance but the site and its timing present similar to the stars that aligned for victory in Mexico in April. That’s still his only top 20 in his last eight starts, but he’s still a primary target.

Every tournament yields a special storyline or two, but it’s hard to beat the headlines of the last three especially, unless… In a groove and chasing his first win in four years, he’s been a fixture at Detroit GC with a personal-best T12 in 2020.