DETROIT — Most people don't get rich betting on golf winners.
There are 156 players that start the week, and anybody can get hot — like a little-known grinder named Nate Lashley, who won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2019, or a superstar-in-the-making, like Bryson DeChambeau, who overpowered Detroit Golf Club in 2020.
But everyone's got a hunch, which you can actually play on-site this week, with a FanDuel Sportsbook on the grounds. Here's mine for the 2022 Rocket Mortgage Classic, which gets underway Thursday morning and runs through Sunday evening.
Five favorites
TONY FINAU
If momentum means anything, he is the guy. After closing with a final-round 66 at The Open Championship, Finau came from behind to win Sunday at the 3M Open, carding four straight rounds in the 60s. This is his second trip to Detroit Golf Club and he’ll be expecting to finish better than his tie for 53rd in 2020.
WILL ZALATORIS
Still looking for his first win, Zalatoris is ranked No. 13 in the world and has nine top-10 finishes this season, including runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship to go along with a sixth at The Masters. He didn’t fare well in Detroit last year but will almost surely be in the mix this week.
CAM YOUNG
A tie for third at the PGA Championship capped three consecutive top-three finishes for the rookie, who then missed the cut at the U.S. Open. But his eagle on the final hole at The Open Championship boosted him to second place alone and has him ranked 13th in the FedExCup standings.
MAX HOMA
The 20th-ranked player in the world missed the cut at St. Andrew's after playing the first two rounds with Tiger Woods, but he’s been solid all season, winning twice while recording three more top-10 finishes, including a tie for fifth at last month’s Memorial.
PATRICK CANTLAY
The fourth-ranked player in the world has been as steady as they come, winning one while recording nine top-10 finishes this season. In 16 tournaments, he’s missed two cuts while notching 11 top-25 finishes. He’ll be making his Rocket Mortgage Classic debut.
Five more to watch
ADAM SCOTT
The 2013 Masters champion is ranked 40th in the world as he makes his Rocket debut. He has three top-10 finishes this season and has a pair of top-15 finishes in the last two majors. After a tie for 14th in the U.S. Open, Scott shot a second-round 65 at The Open to vault into contention before finishing in a tie for 15th.
MAVERICK MCNEALY
An up-and-comer on the PGA Tour, McNealy has made the cut in 20 of 24 events this season and has nine top-25 finishes, including a pair of top-10s in his last four tournaments. This will be McNealy’s third time playing at Detroit Golf Club, finishing in a tie for eighth two years ago and a tie for 21st last year.
CAM DAVIS
You have to keep an eye on the defending champion, especially as Davis has been on a roll of late, tying for eighth at the John Deere Classic, finishing fifth at the Barracuda Championship and tying for 16th last week at the 3M Open. He’s played in every Rocket and looks to repeat last year’s effort, when he won in a playoff.
GARY WOODLAND
The 2019 U.S. Open winner has shown glimpses this season of getting things back on track, highlighted by a tie for 10th at last month’s U.S. Open. He does have five top-10 finishes this season but has missed 11 cuts in 21 events, including The Open Championship.
KEEGAN BRADLEY
The four-time PGA Tour winner and former major champion has seen a resurgence in his career as he enters the Rocket Mortgage Classic ranked 46th in the world. He has six top-10 finishes this season, including a tie for seventh at the U.S. Open and a fifth at The Players Championship.
Five dark horses
CAMERON CHAMP
It’s been a tough year for the long hitter, who missed six straight cuts heading into last week’s 3M Open. But a pair of 67s on the weekend gave Champ a tie for 16th as he looks to build some momentum this week at Detroit Golf Club.
RICKIE FOWLER
It’s been a while since the Rocket pitchman has been in contention for anything, not a surprise when he ranks 173rd on Tour in putting. But he’s typically played well at Detroit Golf Club, and if he can somehow survive the Donald Ross greens at DGC, he could be a factor Sunday.
BRIAN STUARD
There has to be a local favorite, and the Jackson native could use a good performance this week. He hasn’t made a cut since May and has plummeted to 146th in the FedExCup standings. He tied for fifth in the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic and will be hoping to rediscover that touch once again.
DANNY WILLETT
It’s been an up-and-down season for the 2016 Masters champion, who is scrambling to make the FedExCup Playoffs, but he might be hitting his stride at the right time. Willett tied for 53rd at The Open before three straight rounds in the 60s last week at the 3M Open put him in a tie for seventh.
NATE LASHLEY
The wire-to-wire winner of the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2019, Lashley could use a strong week to solidify a spot in the FedExCup Playoffs (he currently ranks 98th). He’s missed the cut in four of his last five events but getting back to the site of his only Tour victory could provide the spark he needs.
