Rocket Mortgage Classic - 2022

[fixyurdivot]

Wow, only three events of the season left before the BMW Championship!!  This week The Rocket Mortgage Classic. The weeks field gets a little stronger than last week and there are a handful of players on the proverbial "bubble" trying to stay or get into the top 125 for a chance at the bonus bucks and/or to keep their tour card. There is no doubt some strategy by players in deciding what if any of these final events to play.  Just far enough inside the 125, 30 or 10 marks that playing but playing badly could be a detriment and decisions like that?  

Cam Davis returns to defend his win last year and hoist what, next to the Sanderson Farms, is arguably the ugliest trophy on the tour . If you think another events hardware is more worthy of the "ugliest trophy award" please chime in. This event is one of the newer ones on tour, a mere baby having started in 2007 as The AT&T National, and then Quicken Loans National. I have not been able to find info on this years purse, but presume it will be increased from last years $7.5M.  I'm rooting for Fowler again this week as he is needing strong showings to make the top 125 (full disclosure... he's also on my FTx squad ).

Don't forget to make your pick for this weeks winner https://runmypools.com/JRMPNWWF.  Good luck!

 

[fixyurdivot]

Tony Finau is keeping last week's mojo rolling.  The odds of a B2B win is looking pretty good.  

[Kenny B]

2 minutes ago, fixyurdivot said:

Tony Finau is keeping last week's mojo rolling.  The odds of a B2B win is looking pretty good.  

Doomed!  Now you did it!!  

[fixyurdivot]

6 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

Doomed!  Now you did it!!  

He's not on my roster .

[rkj427]

This event is being held about 3 miles from my work location. Those who had early tee times had much better weather conditions to play in when compared to those with later tee times.

This morning it was cloudy with light winds, less than 15mph gusts, as the day went on the sun appeared and the winds picked up with 30mph gusts at more times than not.

I played this course a long time ago, when a friend of my Dad had a membership there. It is a beautiful, "old fashioned" traditional course with very undulating greens the only challenge that faces the more modern, long distance off the tee golfers.

Can't discount anyone at least 2 under par at this time, as long as they get on a birdie roll if they have early morning tee times tomorrow. 

[fixyurdivot]

How about the Mark Hubbard ace on #11.  He drops the club in disgust with the strike, watches it roll in, and then turns to face the patrons, slightly embarrassed and in disbelief .

[Kenny B]

1 hour ago, fixyurdivot said:

How about the Mark Hubbard ace on #11.  He drops the club in disgust with the strike, watches it roll in, and then turns to face the patrons, slightly embarrassed and in disbelief .

That never worked for me.  

[fixyurdivot]

Wow, a -3 cut line.  Bummer that Rickie didn't make the weekend.  Unless he wins next week, he'll start his offseason straight away... and that may involve some changes in employer .

[Kenny B]

2 hours ago, fixyurdivot said:

Wow, a -3 cut line.  Bummer that Rickie didn't make the weekend.  Unless he wins next week, he'll start his offseason straight away... and that may involve some changes in employer .

Yep!!  My favorite Rickie shot today was on the par 5 #14 when he hit his second shot... held his club out to the left and yelled "Fore Left!!"... 10 yards out in the middle of the pond.    He did par the hole though.  

[rkj427]

I too was hoping that Rickie would have made the cut, as he is a great ambassador for Rocket Mortgage the sponsor of this event, and they were instrumental in getting the PGA Tour back into Michigan in the Detroit or southeastern Michigan area.

 

The weather today for "moving day" should be ideal for those who made the cut, with the sunny skies, temperatures in the low 80's and winds no more than 10 mph.

 

Personally, I think it was great to see Adam Scott in the top 10 after 2 rounds, and I really hope that he has a great finish to his week here.

 

No matter the outcome, this being the 4th year back here, this event has grown in both popularity amongst the players due to the course design, the conditions, and the reception the general public has shown toward the players.

[MacTourney]

Nice Ross design at DGC, another beauty up the way at Oakland Hills, and just up the street a bit from DGC there's another stellar Ross design in Rackham, a favorite place for us peons to play.

[fixyurdivot]

57 minutes ago, MacTourney said:

Nice Ross design at DGC, another beauty up the way at Oakland Hills, and just up the street a bit from DGC there's another stellar Ross design in Rackham, a favorite place for us peons to play.

Power to the Peons!  Top end courses are cool but I have just as much fun on "blue-collar/working man" tracks.  Bag/cart attendants and fore-caddies feel awkward to me.

[Kenny B]

It looks like a 2 horse race at this point.  Not sure how anyone else can catch Finau and Pendrith.  Maybe one of them falters, but not both.  

Unbelievable that Tony hasn't made a bogey since last week at the 3M Open.

[fixyurdivot]

54 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

It looks like a 2 horse race at this point.  Not sure how anyone else can catch Finau and Pendrith.  Maybe one of them falters, but not both.  

Unbelievable that Tony hasn't made a bogey since last week at the 3M Open.

Yes, I agree.  C. Young could go on a tear and shoot a low 60's round and maybe get them. Tony is finding his stride, particularly with the putter, at the perfect point of the season.  

Oh, and I forgot, congratulations to Wenyi Ding on winning the USGA Junior Amateur at Bandon Dunes!!  And what a do or die fight Caleb Surrat put up having to win every one of the last 8 holes... and getting 5 of them. Ding makes history as the first Chinese winner.

[rkj427]

Although Cameron Young shot 65 in the 3rd round yesterday, he also left a few shots out on the course.

He still is very much in the hunt as long as he plays as well as he did on both Friday and Saturday, and leaves nothing out on the course.

I was disappointed to see Adam Scott finish his 3rd round with a 78, but didn't see any of his play, as he wasn't shown on any of the TV action from Saturday.

 

[fixyurdivot]

Wowzah... Finau finding gears he didn't know he had!!  Looking more like a B2B win with each passing hole.  And how about J.H Kim with a 9 under closing round.

[Kenny B]

OMG!  Tony got a bogey!  Then follows it up with a birdie... of course!

[fixyurdivot]

Congratulations Tony Finau on the B2B Win!!

[Kenny B]

Back2Back wins for Finau!!  Congratulations!!  He is playing awesome golf right now entering the playoffs.

When Tony had the big lead down the stretch, I was switching back to GC to watch Sean Crocker win the DP World Tour event in Scotland.  Another American winning a DP WT event following Lipsky, Veerman, Catlin recently.  It's fun to watch theses guys travel around the world playing this tour, and then making it back to the USA to play in PGA Tour events... maybe Crocker next year!

Didn't know much about Crocker.  Played at Southern Cal and lost in the semis at the US Amateur to eventual winner... Bryson DeChambeau.

[fixyurdivot]

Hopefully Tony drops that trophy off at the nearest Goodwill... in hopes we never have to see it again .

[rkj427]

Trophy photo just for fixurdivot............................ has been the same all 4 years 

[ParFore74x]

Four solid rounds from Finau this week. He definitely seems to be coming on strong at the right time.