Playoff Needed to Settle the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic

Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, MI — July 4, 2021

The fireworks started early on the 4th of July as a playoff was needed to settle the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club.

Troy Merritt and Joaquin Niemann were tied for the 54-hole lead Saturday evening at 14 under par. Both shot a 4 under round of 68 on Sunday to finish at -18.

Cam Davis who was a single stroke back to start the final round had a remarkable finish to his round on Sunday. After a front-nine even-par score of 36, Davis birdied 12, 13, and 14 to put him in contention. A bogey on the par-4 16th seemed to put an end to his ride up the leaderboard. Then the fireworks began.

Davis’s hole out for eagle from the bunker on 17 moved him to within a stroke of the lead. A birdie on 18 placed him in a tie with Troy Merritt and Joaquin Niemann to force a playoff for the title.

Five Extra Holes

Replaying the par-4 18th in sudden death cost Niemann his shot at the win when he made his first bogey of the tournament as he overshot the green with his approach. One down, two left to settle things. Four more holes and Davis missed a birdie put on the par-3, 15th. It was looking like the ending would be a repeat of last week’s marathon playoff in the Traveler’s Championship.

However, Merrit’s tee shot had landed in the rough, just short of the green. He failed to get up and down to force another hole. Davis had turned an improbable late charge into a victory.

Willie Mack III, playing in his first-ever final round on the PGA Tour after he made the cut, turned his sponsor’s exemption entry to the tournament into a nice $15K payday. He finished in a tie for 71st. Here’s hoping the Flint native gets more opportunities to hone his game at the top level of professional golf.

Highlights

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*Indicates started round on the back 9