- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,245,389
- Reaction score
- 59
Detroit — Here's a snapshot look at the final round of the final Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club on Sunday.
Michael Thorbjornsen, 24, won on the PGA Tour for the first time with a 7-under 63 that included a scorching back nine. He finished at 18 under to win by two shots over two-time major champion Xander Schauffele, who at one point Sunday had the lead all to himself. At another point halfway through the round, he was part of a six-way tie for the lead. Schauffele shot a final-round 65 in his first time playing in Detroit, and maybe his last time, too, with the Rocket's eight-year run coming to an end Sunday. Rickie Fowler, the people's champion in Detroit and 2023 Rocket Classic champ, couldn't mount one last charge and finished at 12 under, tied for eighth.
Michael Thorbjornsen was having himself a fine day, at 3 under, but he blew his tee shot left on the long, par-4 13th, and his approach found the right rough. No worries. Thorbjornsen flopped it on the green and it rolled for the birdie, his fourth of the day, to get him to 15 under and within a shot of the lead. It kickstarted his flourish to the finish, as he birdied four of his last seven holes. Thorbjornsen was 17-for-18 in greens in regulation Sunday. The one at the 12th was the only one he missed, and he made birdie anyway. Sometimes, there are signs that it's going to be your day.
The par-4 18th has been the site of so many memorable moments in Rocket Classic history. And while there wasn't quite the drama on the 72nd hole this Sunday — Michael Thorbjornsen rolled in his 26-foot putt for a birdie and an eventual two-stroke victory — it was quite the scene, as a massive gallery gathered around the entire hole under sunny skies for one last look at the PGA Tour in Detroit. And they were treated to one more Rickie Fowler moment. The 18th was where Fowler made birdie twice on Sunday to win in 2023. He made one more birdie there this Sunday, then, as he walked off the green, he was handed a microphone and told the crowd, "Thank you, Detroit."
More: The News' tee-to-green coverage of final Rocket Classic, right here
3,616 — Days between PGA Tour tournaments in Michigan, the end of the old Buick Open in Grand Blanc in 2009 and the first Rocket Classic in Detroit in 2019. Let's hope we don't have to wait that long for the next one. By the way, the Buick Open and Rocket Classic ended their runs on the same day, Aug. 2 — 17 years apart.
"I played really well and he just beat me, straight up, so hats off to him." — Xander Schauffele, two-time major champion who shot a final-round 65 (his best round of the week) to finish at 16 under, two shots back of Michael Thorbjornsen, and in solo second. He was looking for his first victory of the season, in his first time playing in Detroit.
The AREA 313 Challenge went eight years without anybody triggering the jackpot $313,000 donation from Rocket Companies to the charity of a player's choice. A player had to 3-1-3 on Nos. 14-16 (eagle-ace-birdie) at any point in the tournament, a task Max Homa once laughed at and said, "That's the most absurd challenge that's ever been bestowed upon golfers." (Of course, Homa went on to do the hard part that year, 2023, when he aced the 15th.) Still, AREA 313 continued to give back in 2026, with $335,000 pledged to its own stable of charities from the 12 eagles on 14 (at $5,000 each) and the 55 birdies on 16 (at $5,000 each). In eight years, Rocket donated more than $15 million to local nonprofits, including youth sports groups, and the "Changing the Course" mission to end Detroit's digital divide.
[email protected]
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Rocket recap: Highlights from final round of the Rocket Classic at DGC
Continue reading...
Round 4 recap
Michael Thorbjornsen, 24, won on the PGA Tour for the first time with a 7-under 63 that included a scorching back nine. He finished at 18 under to win by two shots over two-time major champion Xander Schauffele, who at one point Sunday had the lead all to himself. At another point halfway through the round, he was part of a six-way tie for the lead. Schauffele shot a final-round 65 in his first time playing in Detroit, and maybe his last time, too, with the Rocket's eight-year run coming to an end Sunday. Rickie Fowler, the people's champion in Detroit and 2023 Rocket Classic champ, couldn't mount one last charge and finished at 12 under, tied for eighth.
Shot of the day
Michael Thorbjornsen was having himself a fine day, at 3 under, but he blew his tee shot left on the long, par-4 13th, and his approach found the right rough. No worries. Thorbjornsen flopped it on the green and it rolled for the birdie, his fourth of the day, to get him to 15 under and within a shot of the lead. It kickstarted his flourish to the finish, as he birdied four of his last seven holes. Thorbjornsen was 17-for-18 in greens in regulation Sunday. The one at the 12th was the only one he missed, and he made birdie anyway. Sometimes, there are signs that it's going to be your day.
Hole of the day
The par-4 18th has been the site of so many memorable moments in Rocket Classic history. And while there wasn't quite the drama on the 72nd hole this Sunday — Michael Thorbjornsen rolled in his 26-foot putt for a birdie and an eventual two-stroke victory — it was quite the scene, as a massive gallery gathered around the entire hole under sunny skies for one last look at the PGA Tour in Detroit. And they were treated to one more Rickie Fowler moment. The 18th was where Fowler made birdie twice on Sunday to win in 2023. He made one more birdie there this Sunday, then, as he walked off the green, he was handed a microphone and told the crowd, "Thank you, Detroit."
More: The News' tee-to-green coverage of final Rocket Classic, right here
Stat of the day
3,616 — Days between PGA Tour tournaments in Michigan, the end of the old Buick Open in Grand Blanc in 2009 and the first Rocket Classic in Detroit in 2019. Let's hope we don't have to wait that long for the next one. By the way, the Buick Open and Rocket Classic ended their runs on the same day, Aug. 2 — 17 years apart.
Quotable
"I played really well and he just beat me, straight up, so hats off to him." — Xander Schauffele, two-time major champion who shot a final-round 65 (his best round of the week) to finish at 16 under, two shots back of Michael Thorbjornsen, and in solo second. He was looking for his first victory of the season, in his first time playing in Detroit.
AREA 313 update
The AREA 313 Challenge went eight years without anybody triggering the jackpot $313,000 donation from Rocket Companies to the charity of a player's choice. A player had to 3-1-3 on Nos. 14-16 (eagle-ace-birdie) at any point in the tournament, a task Max Homa once laughed at and said, "That's the most absurd challenge that's ever been bestowed upon golfers." (Of course, Homa went on to do the hard part that year, 2023, when he aced the 15th.) Still, AREA 313 continued to give back in 2026, with $335,000 pledged to its own stable of charities from the 12 eagles on 14 (at $5,000 each) and the 55 birdies on 16 (at $5,000 each). In eight years, Rocket donated more than $15 million to local nonprofits, including youth sports groups, and the "Changing the Course" mission to end Detroit's digital divide.
[email protected]
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Rocket recap: Highlights from final round of the Rocket Classic at DGC
Continue reading...
