Detroit — With the Rocket Classic coming to an end — the 2026 tournament later this summer will be the eighth and final one — here’s a look back at the champions throughout the years:
2019
The inaugural tournament had star power, starting with Dustin Johnson. DJ missed the cut, while the last man standing was a little-known Nebraskan named Nate Lashley. As he steamrolled his way up the leaderboard, his personal story of tragedy — in 2004, while in college, his girlfriend and parents were killed in a plane crash — was well-told in the media locally and nationally. “I think about my parents all the time,” Lashley said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” He finished 25 under to win his first (and still only) PGA Tour event by six shots over Doc Redman, who Monday-qualified into the tournament. Rocket rewarded him with a sponsorship.
2020
There were no fans allowed, because of COVID-19. Too bad, because Bryson DeChambeau, with his booming drives, put on a show, overwhelming Detroit Golf Club and the classic Donald Ross course. “I’m sorry, Mr. Ross,” DeChambeau joked after his win, which was followed up by his first U.S. Open title later in the year. DeChambeau started the final round three shots back of Matthew Wolff, but rallied to win by three, finishing at 23 under. He missed the cut in 2021, and he hasn’t been back since, because he defected to the LIV Golf tour. He returned to Michigan in August 2025 for the LIV Golf team championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in Plymouth Township.
2021
The first shootout in Rocket came in 2021, when, at one point late in Sunday’s final round, five players were tied for the lead at 17 under. Eventually, three made it into the playoff at 18 under, where Australian Cam Davis won on the fifth extra hole for his first PGA Tour event, beating out Troy Merritt (Joaquin Niemann was eliminated on the first playoff hole, making his first bogey of the week. He went 72 holes without one in regulation). Earlier in the week, Phil Mickelson dominated the headlines, making his first (and only) appearance at the Rocket, and spending much of it feuding with The Detroit News, which broke a story about his past ties to a Metro Detroit bookie.
2022
The early part of the week was dominated by the hottest story in golf — the emergence of the rival LIV Golf tour, and who was going, and who wasn’t. Amid all the chatter, all Tony Finau did was shoot 26 under (rounds of 64-66-65-67) to win by five over Patrick Cantlay, Taylor Pendrith and Cameron Young. It was Finau’s second win in as many weeks, and he’d go on to win a third tournament later in the year (the three-win year still accounts for half of his haul on the PGA Tour). Earlier in his career, Finau had a reputation of not being able to close the deal, but he ditched that at the Rocket. “They say a winner is just a loser that just kept on trying,” he said. “That’s me to a T.”
2023
Since the Rocket launched in 2019, Fowler, the longtime pitchman for the company, has been the face of the tournament. He even was instrumental behind the scenes in getting the PGA Tour to come to Detroit. But in 2023, Fowler was more action than words, winning on the PGA Tour for the first time in more than four years. He did it in dramatic fashion, making birdie on the 18th in regulation to get into a playoff. He made birdie again at the par-4 18th on the first playoff hole, hitting his approach from 190 yards in the right rough to 12 feet and making the putt, looking to the sky and exhaling as he beat Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin. The huge gallery ate it up.
2024
This was arguably the weakest field in the history of the Rocket, by the Official World Golf Rankings. But, again, there was no shortage of intrigue on the back nine Sunday, as Davis emerged for a one-stroke victory and his second win at the Rocket (and second on the PGA Tour). “The huge burden of trying to win again is off the shoulders,” Davis said. “Still in a little bit of shock. It doesn’t really feel real right now.” Akshay Bhatia, the lanky left-hander, three-putted on the 18th green to miss out on a playoff with Davis. Davis finished the week at 18 under, and there was a four-way tie for second at 17 under, with Bhatia, Min Woo Lee, Aaron Rai and Davis Thompson.
2025
For the third time in seven years of the Rocket, there was a playoff — and it was another marathon sudden-death affair, with 20-year-old South African Aldrich Potgieter prevailing with an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole. He beat Max Greyserman, after Chris Kirk was eliminated on the second playoff hole. All three finished at 22 under, while two players were at 21 under, two were at 20 under, five were at 19 under (including Morikawa) and six were at 18 under (including Hideki Matsuyama). “I’m just happy to walk away as a winner,” said Potgieter, becoming the third player to make the Rocket his first PGA Tour victory. It was just his 20th start on the PGA Tour.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: As Rocket Classic nears end, here’s a look back at all the champions
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
