Rocket Classic Predictions & Top Picks 2026: Gotterup Vying For Fourth Win

Chris Gregory - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Chris Gregory • Betting Analyst 5+ years betting experience
Updated: Jul 30, 2026 , 07:07 AM ET • 4 min read

All of our best 2026 Rocket Classic predictions, picks, and top picks for Detroit Golf Club this weekend.

Chris Gotterup Rocket Classic PGA Tour
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Chris Gotterup stands on the 18th green during the final round of the John Deere Classic golf tournament

A fascinating field heads to Detroit Golf Club for the Rocket Mortgage Classic as the PGA Tour continues to march toward the FedEx Cup Playoffs, with action starting today in the Motor City.

The Rocket Classic odds board includes Cameron Young, Xander Schauffele, and touted 3M Open champion Jackson Koivun.

Let's preview all the action before the tournament runs from Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, August 2.

⛳ Rocket Classic: Key takeaways

  • Best outright pick: Chris Gotterup (4.7%) - Gotterup's in top form after a win at the John Deere and back-to-back Top 20s, and he can be trusted despite some so-so results here in Detroit

  • Best prop pick: Ben Kohles Round 1 Under 69.5 - Shot Round 1 scores of 68 and 67 the last two years in Detroit and had a Round 1 lead at last week's 3M Open after a 9-under 62

  • Course: The 7,328-yard Detroit Golf Club is a flat, tree-lined track with tricky bunkers and is coming off a recent Tyler Rae restoration that shifted the course from a Par 72 to a Par 70

  • Weather: Early forecasts call for temperatures in the mid-80s with no notable rainfall

  • Expected cut: The Top 65 golfers and ties will advance after Round 2

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📇 Rocket Classic top picks

Pick Kalshi
Chris Gotterup to win 4.7%
Akshay Bhatia to win 1.8%
Billy Horschel Top 20 17%
Ben Kohles Round 1 Under 69.5 53%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi.

📊 Rocket Classic odds

The Rocket Classic runs at Detroit Golf Club from Thursday, July 30, through Sunday, August 2.

Check out the full Rocket Mortgage Classic field.


🚩 Course breakdown: Detroit Golf Club

Detroit Golf Club's North Course was originally a Donald Ross design but recently underwent renovations featuring significant tree removal, repositioned bunkers, and brand-new greens. 

What originally played as a Par 72 at 7,328 will now be a Par 70 with 12 Par 4s, four Par 3s, and just two Par 5s. That change to Par 70 comes after a 22-under winning score in 2025 and even lower winning scores of -26 and -24 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Five of the seven editions featured a winning score of -22 or better.

  • Mixture of Bentgrass and Poa Annua greens
  • Tight fairways that narrow to approximately 26 yards at the 300-yard carry mark
  • 4-inch thick rough will come into play more frequently following redesign

🔢 Key stats & player profiles to target

Elite drivers, both in accuracy and in distance, will be ahead of the eight-ball this week. Pairing that with good approach play will separate contenders from the chasers this week.

  • Strokes gained off the tee
  • Driving distance
  • Strokes gained approach
  • Scoring average
  • Par-4 scoring

Players to watch

  • Chris Gotterup's tee game is elite, ranking sixth in driving distance and ninth in strokes gained off the tee, while also sitting ninth in total strokes gained and 10th in scoring average
  • Cameron Young's biggest weapon is his driver, ranking 12th in strokes gained off the tee and fifth in total driving, while also ranking fourth in Par-4 scoring


💰 Outright Rocket Classic picks: winners to bet

Pick 1: Chris Gotterup  (4.7%)

Gotterup has maintained some strong form through the meat of the season and is coming off a T18 at The Open, where he ranked sixth in true strokes gained off the tee.

  • Course fit: Led the field in true strokes gained off the tee in 2022, and now has the well-rounded game to match
  • Recent form: Ranked fifth in strokes gained tee-to-green at The Open
  • Key stat: 21st on the PGA Tour in Par-4 scoring

Risk: Hasn't finished better than T26 (2025) in three Rocket Classic starts, with his worst finish being a T67 in 2024

Pick 2: Akshay Bhatia  (1.8%)

Bhatia has flashed for eight finishes of T17 or better this season, including a win at the Arnold Palmer in March.

  • Course fit: Finished T2 and co-led through 54 holes here in 2024
  • Recent form: Ranked fourth in strokes gained putting during T5 at the Travelers
  • Key stat: Eighth in this field in total strokes gained over the last six months

Risk: Lacks week-to-week consistency and missed the cut at The Open last time out


📈 Rocket Classic prop picks

Pick 1: Billy Horschel Top 20 (17%)

Horschel is coming off a T13 at the 3M Open and has gained strokes gained on approach in seven straight starts.

  • Course fit: Finished T17 in lone 2019 start and gained 4.4 true strokes putting
  • Recent form: Second in strokes gained tee-to-green at 3M Open, fifth on approach
  • Key stat: Second in the field in strokes gained approach over the last month

Risk: Putter is ice-cold, ranking 130th in the field over the last month

Pick 2: Ben Kohles Round 1 Under 69.5  (53%)

Kohles opened the 3M Open with a scorching 9-under 62 to take a two-shot lead after Round 1 last week.

  • Course fit: Opened last two Rocket Classics with rounds of 68 and 67
  • Recent form: Also shot opening-round 65 at John Deere Classic earlier this month
  • Key stat: His 68.11 Round 1 scoring average in nine Tour starts would rank first if he qualified

Risk: Lacks momentum after a 3M Open final-round 70, the worst final round of anyone who finished inside the Top 20


📺 How to watch the Rocket Classic & tee times

How to watch:

  • Thursday-Friday: 3-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
  • Saturday: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
  • Sunday: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)

Tee times:


❓ Rocket Classic betting FAQ

Who is the 2026 Rocket Classic favorite?

Cameron Young is the 4.7% favorite at Kalshi.

When is the 2026 Rocket Classic?

The 2026 Rocket Mortgage Classic will be played from Thursday, July 30, to Sunday, August 2.

Where will the 2026 Rocket Classic be played?

The 2026 Rocket Mortgage Classic will be played at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Michigan.

What are Rocket Classic FRL markets?

First Round Leader (FRL) markets center around which golfers will be in the lead following the first 18 holes of the tournament.

How do Rocket Classic matchup picks work?

When betting on Rocket Classic matchups, you're selecting which golfer will score better between the two golfers listed in that specific market. There are 18-hole, single-round matchups, in addition to tournament-long, 72-hole matchups.

What is the Rocket Classic cut line?

The Top 65 golfers and ties after 36 holes will make the cut in the Rocket Classic. 

Are Rocket Classic odds the same across all sportsbooks?

You'll see slight to significant variations in odds across sportsbooks for the Rocket Classic; it's always good practice to check multiple sports betting sites for the best odds.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Chris Gregory Covers.com
Betting Analyst

In his four years on the Covers editorial team, Chris Gregory has helped bolster the site’s golf and college football coverage. He brings a journalism and marketing background to his work as a Publishing Editor and can be found across our site covering the Masters, college football futures, and more.

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