The PGA Tour annually stops at Michigan in late June for the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The Detroit event marked the second coming of the PGA Tour to the state. Michigan residents have been left high and dry for a top-tier tour event since the Buick Open decamped from the state in 2009. 

Rocket Mortgage is hosted at a different course, one that’s in the city of Detroit as opposed to Warwick Hills, which was in Grand Blanc. Here is everything you need to know about the Tour’s lone stop at the Motor City and why it carries so much significance for the State’s populace.

Rocket Mortgage and PGA Tour have deep ties

In 2018, PGA Tour announced a new partnership with Rocket Mortgage, then known as Quicken Loans, the country's largest mortgage lender. The Detroit HQ company was in talks with the PGA Tour to bring a stop inside the Detroit area. Before that, the lending giant was a title sponsor of the Tour’s DC event, Quickens Loans National, since 2014. 

At that time, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said, “We’re thrilled to take this new step in our partnership and bring a PGA TOUR event to the great city of Detroit.” Detroit Golf Club served as the first venue in its inaugural year. For Jay Farner, then Rocket Mortgage CEO, it fit their wider plan for the city and their broader pattern of investment in developing the city since moving the headquarters here in 2010. In 2021, the nation’s largest home-lone provider extended their partnership with the PGA Tour till 2027.

The inaugural event teed off on June 27. The first edition saw an emotional triumph for Nat Lashley, who earned his maiden PGA Tour victory. Lashley, then ranked 353rd in the world, was the last person to enter the field. 

Rocket Mortgage’s ties with the PGA Tour extend beyond being the title sponsor. In addition, Rocket Mortgage is also a sponsor of Rickie Fowler. The six-time PGA Tour winner and the Detroit-based brand confirmed a renewal of partnership during the 2024 PGA Championship. Fowler became the face of Rocket Mortgage in 2015. They also had former PGA Tour pro, Bryson DeChambeau on their roster. However, Rocket Mortgage broke ties with DeChambeau when the latter joined LIV Golf. 

Why Rocket Mortgage Classic is more than a tournament for Detroit residents

The annual stop at Detroit also serves as one of the largest charity events in the Motor City. Rocket Mortgage, Connect 313, and their partners have committed to ending the digital divide across the city. 

The famous AREA 313 challenge at the Detroit Golf Club is the main source of raising money. An eagle on the par-5 14th or a birdie on the par-4 16th triggers a $2,500 donation to the cause. On the other hand, an ace in the 15th results in a $10,000 donation. The first player to achieve the ‘3-1-3’ figure will earn $313,000 that they can donate to the charity. 

In 2019, the inaugural year, Rocket Mortgage raised $2.7 million for charities. Their contribution to charities in the last five years amounts to $8.4 million, of which $4.3 million was forwarded to the Changing the Course initiative. 

Exploring the historic Detroit Golf Club

The introduction of the Rocket Mortgage Classic added a new course to the PGA Tour’s roster. The Detroit Golf Club is one of the signature designs of the late Donald Ross. The club was founded just at the turn of the last century by William R. Farrand and some of his close associates. 

Farrand originally rented the 45-acre land to establish a six-hole layout. Within a few years, a three-fold increase in area preceded the nine-hole layout. Eventually, Scotsman Donald Ross arrived on the scene. By 1916, two courses (North and South) designed by Ross were completed, and two years later, Alfred Kahn planned to open not one but two clubhouses.  

The course has gone through makeovers necessitated by innovation in clubhead designs. Bruce Hepner restored the greens and bunkers in 2015, and before 2019, it went through further makeovers. In fact, earlier this year, the course went through a $16 million-worth renovation. Yet, it doesn’t reveal his fangs like the other Donald Ross-designed course, Pinehurst No. 2. 

Contrarily, the course plays 7,013 yards. The Bentgrass fairways are not as penalizing as some top-tier tour courses, nor are the poa annua greens as fast as ANGC or Pinehurst. Only once in the tournament’s short history has the scoring been higher than 20-under. Tony Finau holds the scoring record of 26-under.

What does the field look like at the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic?

So far, 12 of the PGA Tour’s top 50 players have confirmed their presence at Detroit Golf Club. However, Cameron Young, OWGR 23, is the highest-ranked player in the field as of now. The PGA Tour released the initial names on Monday, which included former major champions like Gary Woodland, Zach Johnson, and Steward Cink. 

Moreover, four of this year’s PGA Tour winners have also confirmed their presence. Chris Gotterup, Robert MacIntyre, Taylor Pendrith, and Davis Riley will travel to the Motor City next week. Joel Dahmen, who was shot into popularity after the Netflix docu-series ‘Full Swing', has committed to the Rocket Mortgage Classic as well. Defending champion, Rickie Fowler has confirmed this previously. Moreover, rising stars like Min Woo Lee, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris will tee off at the Detroit Golf Club.

Let’s also not forget that 15-year-old phenom Miles Russell is all set to make his PGA Tour debut. Russell turned heads after making the cut at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. The 15-year-old from Florida became the youngest ever to win the AJGA Player of the Year award. He will tee off at DGC on a sponsor exemption. 

Three types of tickets are available on the official website. The Daily Ground tickets stand below $100 ($81 on Thursday, $96 for the rest of the rounds). The LendingTree Lounge costs $131 on Friday & Saturday, and $126 on Thursday and Sunday. The Club Ace ticket is priced at $256 for all four days.