2026 Rocket Classic Picks & Predictions: PGA Sleepers
The PGA Tour stays in the Midwest for the penultimate regular season event at the 2026 Rocket Classic. It’s hosted at Detroit Golf Club, following a year-long restoration effort that has added new bunkers and bentgrass greens.
For the eighth edition of this tournament, Cameron Young finds himself as the pre-event betting favorite at +1000 odds. Other notable names include Chris Gotterup (+1800), seeking his fourth win of the season, rookie Jackson Koivun (+2000), who just secured a win at the 3M Open, Xander Schauffele and Si Woo Kim at 20-1, along with Wyndham Clark (+2200), Russell Henley (+2500), Patrick Cantlay (+2500), Hideki Matsuyama (+3000) and Jake Knapp (+3000).
My 2026 3M Open Picks & Predictions: PGA Sleepers had a small chance with Zac Blair’s T13 finish at TPC Twin Cities on Sunday. Aldrich Potgieter (MC) and Lucas Glover (T57) never found themselves in contention during the weekend.
Let’s dial up three more longshot golfers in the outright winner betting market at the 2026 Rocket Classic this week. Follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more free picks and analysis during the remainder of the 2026 PGA Tour season.
2026 Rocket Classic Picks & Predictions: PGA Sleepers
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Denny McCarthy (+8000)
Surprisingly, Denny McCarthy is still searching for his first PGA Tour win. The 33-year-old American only has one top 10 finish in 2026, despite ranking 14th in SG: Putting and 13th in scrambling.
McCarthy’s short game is typically dialed in, so if he can figure out his tee-to-green game at a relatively easy course like Detroit Golf Club, expect his name to be near the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Coming off a season-best T3 finish at the 3M Open, let’s ride McCarthy’s momentum for his breakthrough outright win at 80-1 in Detroit this week.
Doug Ghim (+8000)
Doug Ghim has missed consecutive cuts after going T15-T6, so we’re betting on a volatile golfer to right the ship for his first PGA Tour win. Ghim ranks 24th in total strokes gained, including eighth in SG: Off-the-Tee, 26th at greens in regulation, and 20th for proximity.
The 30-year-old American also sits 12th in scrambling and top-20 for sand save percentage. His putter is a weakness, although Ghim did secure a career-best T19 finish at the 2025 Rocket Classic.
Ghim’s tee-to-green game is high-quality, while his around-the-green and bunker game is equally stout. Let’s bet on Ghim to post his first PGA Tour win at +8000 odds at the 2026 Rocket Classic.
Lucas Glover (+12500)
I’ll stay on Lucas Glover this week. Yes, he wound up T57 at the 3M Open, but he shot a 65 (-6) in Round 1 to showcase his efficient iron play.
Glover is no stranger to wins, with six PGA Tour victories under his belt. The veteran ranks fifth in driving accuracy, top-50 for SG: Approach, and leads the Tour in proximity this season.
Before fizzling out at TPC Twin Cities, Glover had gone T3-T5, so he’s clearly found a rhythm with his game. He’s 92nd in the FedExCup rankings, so Glover needs another strong outing to punch a playoff ticket. Plus, his last outing at Detroit Golf Club led to a T4 finish in 2023.
Bet on Glover as a 125-1 longshot to win in Detroit this week.