2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic Sleepers & Longshot Picks

• The Rocket Mortgage Classic tees off Thursday (July 1st) at Detroit Golf Club, in Detroit, Michigan
• Sungjae Im ranks fourth in strokes gained off the tee and fifth in strokes gained putting over the past 50 rounds in this field
• Read below for analysis of the event and our favorite sleepers and longshot bets

It’s been a while since the PGA Tour had a good old fashioned birdie party, but that’s about to change this week. The Tour heads to Detroit Golf Club, in Detroit, Michigan starting on Thursday (July 1st), which has been one of the easiest courses on the schedule in its brief two year existence.

The event has produced winning scores of -25 and -23, and there’s no reason to think it won’t take another extremely low total to walk away with the trophy on Sunday. Last year, Bryson DeChambeau dominated the competition, leading the field in both strokes gained off the tee and putting on his way to victory, and those two categories will be heavily factored into our betting decisions this week.

2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic Odds

Odds as of June 28th at DraftKings and FanDuel.

	Promo: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets + NBA No Sweat SGP	Learn More
	Promo: Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets	Learn More
	Promo: Up To $1,500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back	Learn More

Sungjae Im happens to excel in both of those key categories, and he is the first target on our sleepers and longshots betting card.

Sungjae Striking It Pure

Im is the fourth highest ranked golfer in the world in this field, yet checks in with the 11th shortest odds. That spells value right there, and it also doesn’t hurt that his game is turning the corner. After a rough patch that saw him miss three cuts in four starts, Im has rebounded with back-to-back superb ball striking weeks.

He gained 2.2 strokes ball striking at a very difficult U.S. Open, and the start prior to that he gained 3.6 strokes ball striking at the Palmetto Championship. He ranks fourth in this field in strokes gained off the tee, and fifth in strokes gained putting over his past 50 rounds, and is accustom to competing for titles at birdie fests. In 2018, he was the Korn Ferry Tour player of the year, winning twice and finishing runner-up three other times, all at courses where the winning score was in the high teens, or low 20’s.

Pick: Sungjae Im to Win (+3300)

Mad Max

Our next target is Max Homa, who has seen a huge shift in his price since odds were first released. Homa opened at +7500 to win, and while he can still be found at some online sportsbooks at +6600, he’s priced as low as +5000 at others. The two-time winner on Tour has been up and down over his past few starts, but when he’s been on, he’s flirted with the top of the leaderboard.

This one meant a lot to Max Homa.

We're not crying, you're crying…pic.twitter.com/bfhmIeBlP5

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) February 22, 2021

He’s posted three top-10 finishes in his past nine tournaments, and statistically is one of the most balanced players in this field. He ranks first in Par-5 scoring, 10th in approach shots within 15 feet, 19th in ball striking, and 34th in putting in this field over the past 50 rounds.

Homa has finished T10 or better in seven of the past eight tournaments where’s he’s gained at least 3.7 strokes putting, and if the flat stick cooperates this week, he may just walk away with his third career trophy.

Pick: Max Homa to Win (+6600), Top-10 Finish (+400)

Top-20 Value Picks

1. Sepp Straka (+335): The Austrian has finished 8th and 11th in two career starts at this tournament, and is fresh off a 10th place finish at the Travelers. He gained 6.2 strokes ball striking last week at TPC River Highlands, and another 2.3 strokes on the greens. If he replicates that performance this week, another top-20 result is well within his range of outcomes.
2. Cameron Champ (+500): Champ hasn’t flashed a ton of great form lately, but now he returns to a venue where he’s had success in the past. He finished T12 here in 2020, and has gained strokes off the tee in 25 of his past 26 starts. Last year, he gained 5.7 strokes off the tee and another stroke on the greens at this event, and he’s certainly capable of riding another bomb and gouge strategy to a high end finish. Of the 36 career cuts he’s made on Tour, 12 have resulted in a top-20 finish or better.