Michigan Golf Journal November 2021

17 November 2021 www.michigangolfjournal.com Classic totaled more than $2.7 million, well surpassing the $1.2 million that was raised from the 2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic. Yet to keep numbers like that rolling in, the tournament needs to attract the best golfers in the world, and tournament director Jason Langwell thinks that will continue to happen with the new date – which is now two weeks after the British Open, and two weeks before the first round of the FedEx Championship. “Players have to plot out their path between the majors…and we love the position that we’re in,” Langwell told me recently. “If you’re a player squarely in the top 30 (FedEx Cup points) or even in the top 70, I think you are still thinking you’re going to leave the Open Championship and want to play (at least) one more time before the FedEx Cup, and that makes us well-positioned to be that choice. Players need to stay tuned up. We think that bodes well for us.” The FedEx Cup home is in Atlanta, at East Lake, which has a similar look and feel as the traditional Donald Ross design of the Detroit Golf Club. This adds to the attraction of top players coming to Detroit to prepare for the season- ending championship. “For the fan experience and the time of year we think it’s a good window and opens up some opportunities for additional fans to come experience us,” Langwell added. “It fits well into the Detroit social calendar. The PGA Tour wants to be in Detroit, they love it here,” Langwell added. “They are bought into the same vision as we are, that Dan Gilbert has, to put a spotlight on the city for the world. That includes our efforts of diversity, equity and inclusion, our efforts to end the digital divide. The Tour is supportive of all these and it’s what drove them to make this expansion happen with Rocket Mortgage.” Exemptions: Langwell admitted that the committee who chooses which new, younger players get the coveted tournament exemptions is one of the toughest jobs of the summer, with so many qualified candidates found locally and nationally. It seems logical that Canton native and MSU golfer James Piot would have to be at the top of that list, as the reigning U.S. Amateur Champion. Yet Langwell can of course not tip his cap with any early announcements like that, but he did admit he loves Piot. “Our approach (of the exemptions committee, which includes TV sports personality Mike Tirico) has been that the future stars are here, at the Rocket Mortgage Classic,” Langwell said. “James certainly fits that category and I’d think he’ll be in the consideration set for sure. I wish we had 15 exemptions to give, there are so many great individuals. “He certainly caught the attention of everyone, not only here but across the nation for what he did at Oakmont; it’s special.” More information on the tournament can be found here: https://www.pgatour. com/tournaments/rocket- mortgage-classic.html MGJ