The PGA Tour pulls into town for one final ride in Detroit. This rendition of the Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club will be its last, but not without the proper sendoff of a better quality field. Studs like Cameron Young, Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and newly minted superstar Jackson Koivun lead the way as this field is the strongest ever in Detroit.

Detroit Golf Club just underwent a $16 million renovation, adding a completely new layer when assessing the best player fits. The project took care to revive the original Donald Ross style and strategy components. Two fewer birdie holes, meaner bunkering, less margin for indiscriminate power—that’s the new setup.

Only one event remains between here and the FedExCup playoffs, where the top 70 punch their ticket to move on. Needless to say, careers are on the line in Detroit. Unlike most weeks, there is no “Scheffler-gap” at the top of the board, providing space for discourse on who will reign supreme on this new version of Detroit Golf Club.

My rankings are set. Without further ado, here are my top-10 contenders to win the 2026 Rocket Classic.

10. Akshay Bhatia

There is a level of unfinished business at Detroit Golf Club for Akshay Bhatia that has me backing his chances this week. He led this tournament through 54 holes in 2024, only to three-putt on the 72nd hole, and handing the trophy to Cam Davis by one stroke. He’s back, and the form is trending in the right direction at the right time.

This season has been a roller-coaster for Bhatia, but there is reason for optimism following positive starts in the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship. With the emergence of Jackson Koivun, Bhatia may find himself on the outside looking in for the Presidents Cup roster, so he needs to finish the season strong. The putting prowess is still there, and there is plenty of added motivation this week to make a charge for the trophy and secure his spot wearing the stars and stripes.

Read The Line’s Joe Idone and John Haslbauer break down a (newsworthy) longshot bet they’re making for the 2026 Rocket Classic:

9. J.J. Spaun

Few in the sport have been as steady from tee to green all season as J.J. Spaun. He’s working with a trustworthy combination of accurate driving and elite approach play that I can confidently back on any course, especially with some uncertainty regarding the new version of Detroit Golf Club.

While some of the architectural nuance has changed, the routing remains intact. It should be a welcome sight for Spaun, who has made all six cuts in Detroit and has finished in the top 10 twice in his past three appearances. He’s got a lot to play for and carries the form that we are looking for.

8. Russell Henley

The immediate reaction when I saw the changes to Detroit Golf Club is that the course has become too long for Russell Henley. Then you look at everything else and understand that if this flips into an accuracy test, nobody is better suited than Henley. He leads the PGA Tour in driving accuracy and arrives off a final round 66 at Royal Birkdale, where he finished T-9.

If you know anything about Donald Ross and how firm freshly rebuilt greens typically are, then there will be a premium placed on hitting approach shots from the correct angle. He’s proven to us that he can handle business on any length of course, making Henley an intriguing contrarian option to win.

7. Hideki Matsuyama

Twenty-nine consecutive cuts made. That streak alone tells you what kind of week-in, week-out player Matsuyama has become, and it’s the longest active runs on tour. I don’t envision any surprises this week either, as Matsuyama has three career top-25s at Detroit Golf Club to provide further support.

The easiest line to draw when looking for player success in Detroit is the simplest one. How did they play last week, at yet another midwest TPC style golf course with low scoring. Well, Matsuyama chipped in for eagle on the second hole to shoot 7-under in his final round and finished T-3 in Minnesota. His surgical precision is back, and Matsuyama is poised to make his run.

6. Si Woo Kim

Si Woo Kim is putting together one of the most consistent seasons on the PGA Tour and has been a staple on the first page of the leader board. The win feels close. Kim briefly led on the back nine of the final round at the Open Championship, but again exposed himself to the biggest question at the moment. Can he close?

If this tournament evolves into a test of control, nobody is more dialed in than Si Woo Kim. There will be stretches where he looks uncomfortable, but his trademark aggressiveness has to pay off at some point, and he knows that he has the game to beat anyone.

5. Wyndham Clark

It’s been a summer of evolution and a complete turn around for Wyndham Clark. He had zero top-10s through his first 12 starts of the season, but since then, six finishes of T-13 or better and two wins have put him firmly in the argument for PGA Tour Player of the Year.

He’s going to play his style here, bombing driver without abandon, and attempting to shape shots aggressively along the tree lines in Detroit. He’s proven his ability to go low on TPC courses, and with the way he’s playing right now, deserves to be considered a serious threat to capture his third win of the summer.

4. Xander Schauffele

Take a guess, what do you think the world ranking for Xander Schauffele currently is?

I’d bet not many of you had 15th. He brings maybe the steadiest resume of any player in the field to the Rocket Classic, but has run into obstacles that have prevented him from truly mixing in these tournaments to win like he used to.

The ceiling still remains high for Schauffele, and make no mistake, he chose to play this event for a reason. It’s been too long since he flashed greatness and showed us that he can handle the Sunday nerves as well as anyone. This feels like the kind of golf course where Schauffele can turn his season around.

3. Jackson Koivun

Any questions? There shouldn’t be. The 21-year-old phenom just sprinted away from a barreling Scottie Scheffler to win in his third start as a pro. I haven’t seen many players, ever, who possess the mentality and game to go bogey-free in the final round under those kind of circumstances.

He’s back in action because he’s right on the line to make the top-70 cutoff for the FedEx Cup. There’s a direct correlation between TPC Twin Cities and Detroit Golf Club, and I wouldn’t put it past this kid to go back to back. It’s a brand “new” course for everyone this week, and Koivun has arrived to dominate.

2. Cameron Young

Two big time wins this season and coming off a grueling second place at the Open Championship, Cameron Young carries the strongest 2026 resume of any player in the field. It’s been the most complete season of his career by far, and he’s the odds on favorite to win his third trophy in Detroit.

He’s also another player with unfinished business at Detroit Golf Club: T-2 here in 2022 and a T-6 in 2024, Young has proven that his ability to separate with elite ball striking is an ideal fit for this golf course. Some mid-season inconsistency with the putter kept him from the top spot in the rankings, but if Young gets it rolling, watch out.

1. Chris Gotterup

This is not a hot stretch of golf anymore. This is a complete transformation into a dominant player for Chris Gotterup. Three wins in 2026, most of any player in the field, has showcased his ability. More importantly, it’s proven that Gotterup can close the deal when it matters the most.

His most recent victory came at TPC Deere Run a few weeks ago, on a golf course that shares many similar agronomy and style. He’s proven that he can win where distance matters, and on courses like Waialae that put a high demand on accuracy. The bottom line is that Gotterup is a winner, and a confident one, that deserves to be ranked No. 1.

Joe Idone is a Read The Line contributor and host of the Preferred Lines podcast.