J.J. Spaun relives the dramatic 64-foot birdie on 18 to win U.S. Open
A 64-foot birdie to seal it. J.J. Spaun is your 2025 U.S. Open champion after a dramatic finish at Oakmont.
USGA
Situated in one of the most historic areas of the Motor City, Detroit Golf Club fits right in. A formal coat of arms emblazoned above the classic clubhouse door boasts of a club with a history that goes back to 1899.
In fact, the Rocket Classic is one of the newest things about the club; the event was created in 2019 when it replaced the Quicken Loans National (played in Washington) on the PGA Tour schedule. The tournament currently has six winners. Australian golfer Cameron Davis is the only two-time champion of the tournament, having won it in 2021 and 2024.
All former winners have announced their return to the Rocket Classic this year except for Bryson DeChambeau, who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
Detroit boasts two courses: the North and South Course. The Rocket Classic is played on the North Course, which is a classic Donald Ross course, utilizing the natural aspects of the land to create a relatively flat course lined with trees. Shots off the tee will be critical to the golfers’ success when the tournament commences.
The entire field was announced Friday, June 20, after 2025 U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun announced on Friday he was withdrawing to celebrate his Open win. Notable players include World No. 4 Collin Morikawa and Michigan State’s Ashton McCulloch, who received a sponsor exemption to play in the tournament.
When is the Rocket Classic?
The Rocket Classic is June 25-29.
What is happening on each day of the Rocket Classic?Sunday, June 22: THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational
Detroit Golf Club hosts an event this weekend: THE JOHN SHIPPEN National Invitational. On Sunday, some of the premier Black men’s golfers will face off in the final round. The gates to the course open at 8:30 a.m. and tickets and parking are complimentary.
Wednesday, June 25: Detroit Community Day
The Delta Dental Pro-Am and the Greater Detroit Youth Clinic kick off Wednesday. Free admission and parking. Gates open at 6:45. The Youth Clinic will tee off at 4 p.m.
Thursday, June 26: Rocket Classic First Round
Also known as “Bow Tie Day,” in honor of the late Nick Gilbert, the tournament tees off Thursday. The gates open at 6:45 a.m. and play begins on the first and 10th tees. Shuttle service is provided from 6:15 a.m.-8:30 p.m., and hospitality food and beverage service begins at 11 a.m., which will continue for the duration of the tournament.
Friday, June 27: Rocket Classic Second Round
The second round will honor veterans with “Folds of Honor Friday” as the tournament continues. Gates open at 6:20 a.m. with shuttle service moving 25 minutes earlier to 5:50 a.m. and running until 8:30 p.m. Play begins on first and 10th tees.
Saturday, June 28: Rocket Classic Third Round
Fans are encouraged to show off their college pride on Saturday for the third round. Gates open an hour later at 7:15 a.m. The narrowing field on Saturday means play will only begin from the first hole. There is less shuttle service as well, running from 6:45 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sunday, June 29: Rocket Classic Final Round
The final stretch begins Sunday when gates open at 7:15 a.m. and play begins on the first tee. Shuttle time is 6:45 a.m.-8 p.m. The Trophy will be presented on the 18th green after play has concluded.
Where can I buy tickets to watch the Rocket Classic?
Fans can purchase tickets at RocketClassic.com. Grounds tickets start at $65 per day. Children ages 15 and under are free with ticketed adult (no more than four per adult). Note that if you wish to enter hospitality venues, all children 3 and older will require a ticket. All tickets are mobile entry only (no printed tickets) and there is no re-entry.
The Rocket Classic announced a new initiative this year to get students involved in golf. Current students can get tickets for 31.3% off (a nod to the zip code of Detroit) Thursday through Sunday if they use their .edu email address at checkout.
Where can I park at the Rocket Classic?
Parking is not included with ticket purchase except Wednesday, when attendees can park at the University of Detroit Mercy (4001 W. McNichols Road) for free. Thursday-Sunday, parking is located at Wayne State (5501 Anthony Wayne Drive) in Parking Structure 5.
Parking passes can be purchased online and the cost varies. A Thursday parking pass costs $26, but passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday cost $31.
How can I watch the Rocket Classic on TV?Thursday, June 26PGA Tour Live on ESPN+Golf Channel: 3-6 p.m.Friday, June 27PGA Tour Live on ESPN+Golf Channel: 3-6 p.m.Saturday, June 28PGA Tour Live on ESPN+Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.CBS: 3-6 p.m.Sunday, June 29PGA Tour Live on ESPN+Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m.CBS: 3-6 p.m.Who is playing in the Rocket Classic?2025 Rocket Classic field
All participants listed in alphabetical order.
Byeong Hun AnMason AndersenAaron BaddeleyChristiaan BezuidenhoutAkshay BhatiaKeegan BradleyRyan BrehmJacob BridgemanHayden BuckleyRafael CamposPatrick CantlayFrankie Capan IIIRicky CastilloCameron ChampWill ChandlerLuke ClantonWyndham ClarkDominic ClemonsEric ColeTrevor ConeBen CookVince CovelloQuade CumminsJoel DahmenCam DavisCristobal De SolarTaylor DicksonNick DunlapNico EchavarriaAustin EckroatTony FinauPatrick FishburnSteven FiskMatt FitzpatrickRickie FowlerBrice GarnettRyan GerardDoug GhimNoah GoodwinWill GordonChris GotterupMax GreysermanBen GriffinLanto GriffinEmiliano GrilloAdam HadwinHarry HallNick HardyGarrick HiggoHarry HiggsJoe HighsmithRyo HisatsuneLee HodgeRico HoeyCharley HoffmanNicolai HøjgaardRasmus HøjgaardMax HornaRikuya HoshinoBeau HossierMark HubbardStephan JaegerZach JohnsonTakumi KanayaChan KimMichael KimSi Woo KimTom KimChris KirkKevin KisnerKurt KitayamaPatton KizzireJake KnappPhilip KnowlesBen KohlesMatt KucharMichael La SassoNate LashleyThriston LawrenceMin Woo LeeDavid LipskyLuke ListJustin LowlerPeter MalnatiBen MartinHideki MatsuyamaMatt McCartyAshton McCullochMax McGreevyMac MeissnerKeith MitchellFrancesco MolinariTaylor MooreCollin MorikawaWilliam MouwTrey MullinaxAlex NorenHenrik NorlanderThorbjørn OlesenKaito OnishiJohn PakRyan PalmerJeremy PaulVictor PerezPaul PetersonChandler PhillipsAldrich PotgieterSeamus PowerAndrew PutnamChad RameyMatthew RiedelDavis RileyPatrick RodgersThomas RosenmüllerKevin RoyAntoine RoznerSam RyderIsaiah SalindaGordon SargentAdam SchenkGreyson SiggBen SilvermanWebb SimpsonDavid SkinnsAlex SmalleyBrandt SnedekerJackson SuberAdam SvenssonJesper SvenssonDavis ThompsonMichael ThorbjornsenAlejandro TostiSami ValimakiErik van RooyenKevin VeloKris VenturaKarl VilipsCamilo VillegasDanny WalkerMatt WallaceVince WhaleyTim WidingDanny WillettAaron WiseGary WoodlandNorman XiongCameron YoungCarson YoungKevin Yu
You can reach Matthew Auchincloss at mauchincloss@freepress.com
