5 lowest scores in Rocket Classic history: Finau, Fowler and DeChambeau light up Detroit Golf Club
The Rocket Classic returns for its seventh edition this weekend at Detroit Golf Club, an annual display of low scoring on the PGA Tour.
The par-72, 7,370-yard course designed by Donald Ross has become an arena for entertainment with wide fairways, soft greens and rough that is inconsiderate in comparison to other PGA Tour venues.
Since the tournament debuted on the circuit in 2019, it’s been consistently ranked among the most scoreable on the calendar and is an event that excites players and fans alike.
Some notable names will be absent in Michigan, paving the way for other competitors in the run-up to The Open Championship.
Let’s take a look at the 5 lowest winning scores in Rocket Classic history…
5. Cameron Davies – 2021 & 2024 (-18)
Remarkably, Davies has won the event twice, coming in 18-under-par on both occasions in 2021 and 2024 with both wins defined by consistent scoring rather than record-breaking rounds.
In 2021, he survived a three-man playoff against Troy Merritt and Joaquin Niemann with clutch putts in each of the extra holes to secure his maiden PGA Tour title. And then in 2024, he returned to Detroit, displaying remarkably similar composed golf to edge out the likes of Akshay Bhatia, Min Woo Lee and Aaron Rai by a singular stroke.
4. Bryson DeChambeau – 2020 (-23)
In the 2020 edition, Bryson DeChambeau displayed one of the most dominant displays of hitting in recent history during a period where he famously bulked up to maximise the possibilities of his incredible long ball striking.
Following his pandemic bulk, he returned to the PGA Tour with an impressive distance advantage with his driver-heavy strategy paying off as he muscled his golf ball around the Detroit Golf Club to win by three strokes.
3. Rickie Fowler – 2023 (-24)
It was Rickie Fowler’s first PGA Tour win in three seasons. Not only was it one of the lowest winning scores at the event, but it was one of the most emotional ones following several years of struggles, swing changes and drops in world ranking.
The 2024 Rocket Classic went to a playoff with Fowler sinking a birdie putt to overcome the challenge of Adam Hadwin and Collin Morikawa and mark his first PGA title since his win at the WM Phoenix Open in 2019
2. Nate Lashley – 2019 (-25)
Lashley’s 2019 win remains one of the most surprising yet dominant victories in recent years, having entered the event as a qualifier to go on and card 25-under-par through 72 holes.
He opened the event with rounds of 63 and 67 before firing in another 63 on Saturday to claim a six-stroke victory at the inaugural edition of the event. His ruthless win capped off a week of flawless golf where he was utterly dominant.
1. Tony Finau – 2022 (-26)
The lowest winning score in Rocket Classic history belongs to Tony Finau, who carded rounds of 64, 66, 65 and 67 to win the event in Detroit in 22.
Consistency was key in his 26-under-par success, where he posted just four bogeys all week and led the field in strokes gained in an entertaining display of golfing class. It was his second win in as many weeks and remains the benchmark for winning scores at the Rocket Classic.
The lowest winning scores at the Rocket Classic…
5. Cameron Davies – 2021 & 2024 (-18)
4. Bryson DeChambeau – 2020 (-23)
3. Rickie Fowler – 2023 (-24)
2. Nate Lashley – 2019 (-25)
1. Tony Finau – 2022 (-26)
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