Fire up the 8 Mile DVD, because we’re headed to Detroit. A showdown in Motown awaits us, and it’s a bit of an opportunity to step back and take a breath after a whirlwind month that’s included two Signature events, a brutal major, and a trip to Canada. You won’t see most of the usual suspects here this week, but all that means is that we get a chance to look at some more unheralded names on a course that, quite frankly, is really cool. Let’s get into it.
Detroit Golf Club is an old school Donald Ross (same guy who designed Pinehurst, and for all you Ohio readers, Scioto Country Club, Inverness, Columbus Country Club, Maketawah, and Manakiki) course. Ross loved to make his green complexes the star of the show, working intricate slopes and contours into the putting surfaces and surrounding them with bunkers and collection areas to reward precision and punish any misstep. It’s not long, either, at just over 7,300 yards for the par 72 layout.
You can pretty much fire away off the tee, since misses aren’t penalized nearly as harshly as at a course like Oakmont. Longer hitters have a distinct advantage here, and your putter will need to be absolute cash to keep up.
DGC is historically one of the easier courses on Tour, and expect winning scores somewhere around -22. If the course softens up, look for Tony Finau’s tournament record of -26 to be threatened.
Detroit Golf Club’s tournament layout comprises 17 holes from its North Course and one from the South, so 4, 5, and 6 on the layout are 5, 6, and 7 on the member course. Let’s break them down, using the tournament numbering to identify them.
4 is a big ole par 5, sitting at 635 yards in the tournament configuration. Big hitters might be able to get there in two, but for the majority of the field, the second shot will be an attempt to get clear of a tree that blocks your line at the green down the right side.
5 gives you two options off the tee: lay up with a 235-240 shot and have a wedge in, or hit driver, try to carry the bunkers, and have … a wedge in? The difference here is that you can hit a full gap wedge or hit a 50-yard pitch shot, depending on your strategy. Birdies are there for the taking on this hole.
6 is one of the trickier greens on the course, which makes up for the rest of the straightforward par 3. It actually looks a fair bit like #7 at Pinehurst, though obviously it’s not quite as difficult. The green features several ridges, slopes, and bowls, making any putts tricky and birdies well earned.
Even in a weaker field, there’s plenty of talent. Here are some guys to keep an eye on this week in the 313.
Captain America just won at basically his home event, he’s been playing great all season, and he’s on the verge of making it into the top 6 and the autoqualifiers for the Ryder Cup this fall. You gotta love it for Keegan.
Vibes: Star Spangled Banner/10
One of the hottest players on Tour right now. You don’t need much more to explain why you should be paying attention to him. The dude is on an absolute HEATER.
Vibes: 10/10
Cantlay’s having a very uncharacteristic season, lacking his usual consistency. His play off the tee alone is a reason to pay attention, but he hasn’t been his usual self with the irons, and things are going to need to change quickly.
Vibes: 6.5/10
I would love few things more than for Rickie to win here again. The 2023 champ comes to Detroit desperately needing a win for the good mojo, and he’ll be a crowd favorite. The people need another Rickie W.
Vibes: Clockwork Orange/10
Young hits it an absolute mile. He’s also been playing great lately, and comes into this tournament on a run of form only topped by Ben Griffin. If his putter stays hot, he could do some serious damage and maybe even pick up his first win on Tour.
Vibes: 8/10
Greyserman has had a quality short game this season, and he hits it plenty long, a good combo to have here and a mirror of Bryson DeChambeau’s triumph in the past. His irons have been solid lately, so he could be in for a whole lot of birdie opportunities here this week.
Even with the weaker field, there’s plenty to watch for this week. From a relatively unheralded course to a chance for fireworks and the opportunity to look like a true golf Sicko by following some of these players, there’s no shortage of intrigue in Detroit. Enjoy the week and I’ll see you for the John Deere next week.
Enjoyed this? Be sure to check out my work at pinseekergolf.substack.com for more previews, analysis, and content about the game of golf.
Join our mailing list and we'll keep you posted on everything the land has to offer!
