DETROIT – Instead of the Rocket Classic taking place in June, it’s moving to a later date next year which works well for both tournament and club.
The PGA Tour calendar has not been finalized yet; however, the Rocket Classic will be rescheduled to take place July 30 to August 2, positioning it after the British Open, which is slated for July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale next year.
The new schedule was announced during the final round on Sunday. Historically, the tournament has faced challenges in attracting top-ranked golfers. This is partly because it is not considered a “signature” event on the PGA Tour - a status unlikely to be acquired soon due to financial reasons. It was partly because of its position on the schedule where it is preceded by the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship (a signature event) and succeeded by the Scottish Open, all events with much bigger purses than the Rocket.
Many elite players opted to skip the Rocket Classic to rest and gear up for the higher-profile competitions, which diminished the tournament’s prestige and frustrated its organizers. The new late July to early August slot may encourage players on the edge of FedEx Cup playoff qualification to participate, enhancing the competitive field.
For the club, the new dates will allow them to complete renovations on the course. Detroit Golf Club plans to spend $16.1 million dollars renovating greens and bunkers as well as removing the pond on the 14th hole. The course will also be lengthened by 300 yards.
With the extra weeks, the course will have more time to mature and will thus play faster, which both the golfers and the PGA Tour like.
The Classic is only under contract through 2026, though there is an option for Rocket Companies to extend through 2027. Getting a new date and increasing the strength of the field will likely help the tournament remain in Detroit.