Michigan Golf Journal June 2021

9 June 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com pro golf stopped in its tracks during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic last spring. Scheduled then for May, the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic was shifted to July so it could be one of the first events to return to the Tour’s national schedule, albeit with no fans allowed on site. The 2020 tournament was a huge success as third- round leader Matthew Wolff battled eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau head- to-head in the final round, played across the heralded Donald Ross-designed North Course at Detroit Golf Club, providing for some electric competition. In all, despite no fans on site, but who generously supported the tournament via online donations and sponsor collections, more than $2.7 million in proceeds went to local charities championed by the tournament. Nate Lashley reinvigorated his career when taking the title of the 2019 inaugural tournament. This year, over the July 1-4 Independence Holiday weekend, the Rocket Mortgage Classic will celebrate golf-fan freedom by welcoming fans back on-site in Detroit to watch and cheer on the likes of players such as tournament defending champ (and U.S. Open champ) Bryson DeChambeau, plus the ageless 6-time major champion Phil Mickelson . Jason Day, Webb Simpson, Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler are also scheduled to return, along with Harold Varner III, as the initial committed players in the field. Michiganders will ideally be cheering on Brain Stuard of Jackson (who placed T5 in 2019) and Ryan Brehm of Traverse City, as well as other potential ‘locals’ in the field. Continues on page 11 >>