Michael Thorbjornsen Wins Rocket Classic, Claiming His First Tour Win

Aug 03, 2026 08:15 PM - 1 hour ago 1

The PGA Tour is undergoing a younker movement, and this isn’t thing caller for those who person been paying attention. Last week it was Jackson Koivun, a 21 year-old, winning his first tourney successful conscionable his 3rd event. This week it was Michael Thorbjornsen claiming triumph astatine the Rocket Classic, astatine the property of 24 years-old.

This was Thorbjornsen’s first victory, and marked the 2nd consecutive week wherever the circuit saw players nether the property of 25 triumph their first tournament. Thorbjornsen was capable to outlast a section that consisted of Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, and Cameron Young to win. It was his bogey-free 63 Sunday which sealed the woody for his triumph astatine the Detroit Golf Club.

For immoderate who deliberation of the Rocket Classic arsenic a lesser than tourney connected the schedule, it proved to beryllium an breathtaking play of play which came down to the wire. It was Thorbjornsen who claimed a two-shot triumph complete Schauffele, who has yet to declare triumph successful 2026.

It was a tremendous tournament, 1 which galore thought was considered a lesser than tourney connected the schedule, and a awesome measurement to item immoderate of the young talent connected the PGA Tour.

Let’s return a look astatine who was projected to beryllium contending, based connected pre-tournament odds.

2026 Rocket Classic Odds

Cameron Young (+1025)
Xander Schauffele (+1650)
Si Woo Kim (+1800)
Chris Gotterup (+1800)
Wyndham Clark (+1850)

When it came to picks for this event, I for illustration to commencement pinch my favourite and agelong changeable picks for the tournament. The favourite prime is the victor prime I for illustration the most. For the agelong changeable winner, that is simply a golfer who has complete +2000 likelihood to win. It is simply a agelong changeable prime for a reason, and uncovering those tin beryllium for illustration uncovering a needle successful a haystack.

Here were my favorite and agelong changeable picks for the 2026 Rocket Classic:

Favorite: Cameron Young (+1025) - MISS

Heading into Saturday the prime of Young arsenic the outright victor perfectly seemed plausible; however, Young’s putter turned crystal acold complete the play and it prevented him from cashing the outright victory. Instead, his T8 decorativeness had him close, but not adjacent enough.

Long Shot: Jake Knapp (+3600) - MISS

Last week astatine the 3M Open Jake Knapp played good pinch a T13 finish. It seemed logical to deliberation he would proceed that inclination astatine the Rocket Classic. Knapp missed the cut, which showed his roller coaster play continues post-injury.

Top 5 Bets For The Rocket Classic 2026

Cameron Young (+215) - MISS

Young didn’t triumph outright, and came conscionable 1 putt distant from helping america rate the Top 5 pick. His T8 decorativeness was a coagulated week of work, but wasn’t bully capable to thief america rate the +215 bet.

Chris Gotterup (+355) - MISS

The Detroit Golf Club seemed for illustration a people Chris Gotterup, a New Jersey native, would execute good on. However, Gotterup’s struggles were evident connected the first 2 days, and he missed the cut. Gotterup not moreover making the play was surely a daze to play fans.

Top 10 Picks For The Rocket Classic 2026

Jackson Koivun (+215) - MISS

After Koivun’s large triumph past week astatine the 3M Open, I had a emotion the 21 year-old was going to enactment hot. Koivun vanished T31, and conscionable couldn’t make the basal shots for illustration he did a week prior. Koivun doesn’t look for illustration he’s going anyplace anytime soon, but he didn’t rate the Top 10 pick.

Wyndham Clark (+188) - MISS

Similar to Chris Gotterup, I was stunned to spot Wyndham Clark, 1 of the hottest golfers this summertime connected tour, not moreover make it to the weekend. Clark’s putting was what helped him win the U.S. Open, arsenic good arsenic the CJ Cup, and it seems arsenic if his putter isn’t redeeming him arsenic overmuch arsenic of late. Clark will make the FedEx Cup Playoffs, but from location it is anyone’s conjecture arsenic to really he will perform.

Top 20 Value Picks For The Rocket Classic 2026

Hideki Matsuyama (+140) - HIT

Last week it was Hideki who helped america rate a Top 10 pick, and we pulled backmost and took him arsenic a Top 20 play this week. Matsuyama proved he would person been bully for a Top 5 prime if we were bold capable to return him, finishing T5. Nonetheless, Matsuyama is trending upwards successful a large way, and helps america rate the +140 play.

Rickie Fowler (+160) - HIT

Fowler has won this tourney successful the past, and erstwhile you harvester that pinch the measurement he had been playing the past clip we saw him, my “gut pick” of the week wasn’t that crazy. Fowler vanished T8 and helps america expanse the Top 20 picks pinch the +160 play.

Best Prop Bets, Parlays And Bonus Plays For The 2026 Rocket Classic

For prize plays, these are picks which I don’t needfully bent my chapeau on, but still supply worth for immoderate who want much exotic plays extracurricular of the aforementioned picks. Sometimes prize plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and moreover immoderate nosy plays for that peculiar event.

Here are the prize plays for the 2026 Rocket Classic:

Top 30: Brooks Koepka (+138) - Withdrew, No Play

Margin of Victory: 2 Shots (+345) - HIT