What does PMI even mean, Rick? Well, we don’t know, but we are eager to find out at this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. The PGA Tour returns to Michigan for the first time since 2009 while the ladies brace for the summer heat of Arkansas.

 

Now everybody from the 313…

Detroit Golf Club will host the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic this week as the PGA Tour swings through the midwest. Designed by Donald Ross in the 1910s, DGC has never hosted a professional event. It has added length in preparation for this week’s tournament. The field includes Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Gary Woodland, and Xander Schauffele. Tee Times

Storylines

Detroit – It has been a long time since a PGA Tour event has come to the Detroit area. Tiger and the Buick Open used to make a yearly appearance, but that event ended a 33-year run in 2009. Hungry for professional golf, the Detroit faithful will undoubtedly show out this weekend.

Young ’uns – The sponsor-invite gravy train continues for multiple new pros this weekend. Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland, Justin Suh, and Zach Bauchou all look to earn valuable FedEx Cup points at Detroit Golf Club.

Rush to Portrush – Two spots in the Open Championship are up for grabs in Detroit. Next week’s 3M Classic in Minnesota is not part of the qualifying series, so that leaves just Detroit and the John Deere Classic for Portrush hopefuls.

Poster boy – Expect Quicken Loans pitchman Rickie Fowler (you know, the guy with the pool floaties and the awkward/therapeutic post-round interviews) to be a big part of the broadcast this week.

 

Paulie’s Picks

Fried Egg fantasy guru Paulie expects birdie rate and par-5 performance to play a big role at par-72 Detroit Golf Club. Check out his DraftKings and one-and-done picks here.

 

Walmart NW Arkansas Championship 

The LPGA heads to Arkansas this week, and we hope they have packed plenty of sunscreen. The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship kicks off Thursday with defending champion Nasa Hataoka headlining the field. Other usual suspects like Jin Young Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, Jessica Korda, and Minjee Lee will be in the field as well. Field & Tee Times

 

Quick hooks

The European Tour heads to the coast of Spain for the Andalucía Valderrama Masters. Sergio García, Jon Rahm, and Matthew Fitzpatrick headline the event. Tee Times

Players on the Korn Ferry Tour get vertical this weekend at the Utah Championship. Tee Times

Detroit has long been a union town, so it’s fitting that the PGA Tour’s return to Motor City could potentially feature a strike. Full Story by Greg Levinsky

 

The Latest

Irish Doak

Tom Doak will build his first Irish golf course at the Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort in County Donegal, Ireland. Construction on the design is set to begin this summer, and the resort hopes to have limited preview play by the end of 2020. Rosapenna is a remote destination, but golf has been played there since the Tom Morris days. Read Garrett Morrison’s full report on our site.

Shotgun Start: The PMI Backboarding classic, Pat Reed gets fit, and Woodland gets snubbed

This Wednesday episode bobs and weaves and meanders through the schedule for the week, with many relevant and irrelevant digressions. We begin with a hot tip on Justine Reed’s latest efforts to get Pat Reed back on track up in Detroit. Then we discuss BMW leaving as title sponsor of an FEC Playoffs event and the amount of money required to land such a sponsorship. Then we get into the Tour’s return to Michigan with some course conditioning intel from a member on the ground, how it might play, some disconcerting grandstand setups, and a notable FEC omission from the field. We also lament the failure to keep an event in DC alive. We argue Valderrama for the Andalucia Masters is the kind of course that is so bad it’s good. At the U.S. Senior Open, we review the Notre Dame course and a potential Stevie Fountains of the Senior circuit to back this week. We question the Web Tour’s bizarre cross-country schedule. And we wrap with the big reveal for the Tour’s fan vote Friday options leaving Andy apoplectic. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify

 

Pro Shop

Your grooves need a wipe-down after those fried egg lies, so you might as well use the brand-new Fried Egg towel! Towels are officially in stock and ready for purchase in The Fried Egg pro shop.