2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Sleeper Picks

The PGA Tour moves on to the Detroit Golf Club in Michigan, where I will make my longshot bets for the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic. This is only the 2^nd year for this tourney, so there isn’t a lot of data to fall back on when choosing sleepers to win.  So, I am going to have to look at who is hot and who is making some recent improvements, while also thinking about how many weeks each golfer has played over the past three…a bit of tiredness could be a factor for some.

I will continue to place bets at Intertops as their betting odds have been solid.

Past Picks Rapid Recap

There weren’t too many surprises last week at the Travelers Championship… Scores were low and many of my sleeper picks faired fairly well – but unfortunately, I just didn’t nail the winner despite having 6 out of 10 options contending going into Saturday.  Dustin Johnson picked up his 21^st title with the best score at the course since 2011 at -19.

Here are the results of last week’s longshot picks (the cut line was -4):

Reasoning Behind This Week’s Picks

Taking a look at last year’s results, which happens to be the ONLY year the tourney was played, I see that there weren’t many familiar names near the top.  Nate Lashley won, posting an incredible -25 winning score, destroying the field by 6 shots.  For that simple reason, he will need to be considered as a potential underdog repeat winner.  Doc Redman placed 2^nd at -19 with a consistent four rounds and has looked good lately.  Brandt Snedeker catches my eye at 5^th with a -17.  Two others I like that made some noise are Viktor Hovland (13^th at -15) and Mackenzie Hughes (21^st at -13).

Lately, there are several golfers who have been improving weekly.  Some names include: Scott Stallings, Doc Redman, Viktor Hovland, Mackenzie Hughes, Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Na and Brian Stuard.

Key Things To Consider For The Rocket Mortgage Classic

Check out our 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Preview for more details about the course.

TOP SLEEPER PICK FOR THE ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC

 

 

Viktor Hovland (20 to 1)

 

Hovland has followed the Covid-19 layoff extremely hot, being in contention every week and posting a 23^rd / 21^st / 12^th.  Last year, Hovland also played well at the Detroit Golf Club finishing 13^th, while posting a great final round of 64 (-8).  I see this former #1 World Amateur Ranked Golfer breaking through very soon with a handful of PGA wins and numerous top 10s…so I will continue to bet on him while the odds are reasonable.

ANOTHER LONGSHOT TO MAKE A BET ON

 

 

Doc Redman (45 to 1)

 

Redman is my second sleeper pick this week.  He started the layoff placing 58^th at Charles Schwab.  Then he posted a respectable -14 at the RBC Heritage placing 21^st.  Finally, last week he ended up 12^th.  See the trend?  If exhaustion doesn’t catch up to him, I see another improvement and, it makes very good sense considering, as mentioned above, he came in 2^nd in Detroit last year.

DEEP SLEEPER PICK

 

 

Scott Stallings (100 to 1)

 

Stallings didn’t play the Charles Schwab, so he might be a bit fresher than most playing their 4^th tourney in a row.  His layoff debut was at the RBC, where he placed 48^th.  And, last week at the Travelers, he placed an impressive 4^th – so he looks ready to take aim at a title.  Rumor is, Stallings worked out like a beast getting his body in the best shape of his life during the recent break (you can see his Tour Pro Workout here).

Last year at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Stallings started out strong with a -6 opening day, but faded into the weekend.  I am going to bet that Stallings contends this weekend and love the 100 to 1 longshot odds I am getting for him to win it all.

BONUS 2020 ROCKET MORTGAGE LONGSHOTS TO WAGER ON

Mackenzie Hughes – Hughes has improved every week since the layoff and looks in great form placing 3^rd at the Travelers Championship last week.  A 21^st last year here suggests he will be in contention all weekend.
**Hughes was scheduled to compete, but has since pulled out and plans to play at Muirfield Village the next 2 weeks in Dublin, Ohio.**

Kevin Na (40 to 1) – Na came out of the break missing a cut and complaining of some back issues.  So, he took a week’s rest and came back blazing at TPC with a 5th place finish (-16).  Na didn’t play the Rocket Mortgage Classic last season, so this could be a bit of a dicey sleeper pick – but that’s why I am getting 40x my money if he comes through!

Brandt Snedeker (66 to 1) – Has only played the last 2 weeks and therefore should be fairly fresh and is showing a strong upward trend.  Placed a strong 5^th last year at the RMC…so I will grab him at 66x my money.

Brian Stuard (100 to 1) – Stuard finised 5^th last year at the Detroit Golf Club so he is an automatic possibility.  What I like is that Stuard is in excellent form placing 20^th / 52^nd / 43^rd in the last 3 weeks.  Love his 100 to 1 underdog odds to win!

Nate Lashley (125 to 1) – Although he missed the cut in the first 2 weeks after the Corona Virus golf suspension, he does hold the only championship at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last year and it wasn’t close.  Repeat?  Doubtful…but why not take a crazy chance?!

Rocket Mortgage Classic Bottom Line

This will be an interesting week in the PGA Tour.  The 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic is only in it’s 2^nd year and some players will be playing there for the 1^st time ever.  For some, it will be the 4^th week in a row since a long layoff, so fatigue will likely start to strike.  For others they will be making their long-awaited debut from the Covid-19 suspension.  And, many will be simply taking some time off to recuperate.  So, I predict a wide-open tourney – which is the perfect time to bet on sleepers and long shots.  Hopefully, we will cash in BIG this week and can gloat our way to the bank and post a framed picture of our bet slip on the wall!

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Rocket Mortgage Classic Preview

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