Mark Hubbard … When a course like the Detroit Golf Club turns around for eagles and birds, anything can happen, but statistically you are no more familiar with the low level than the 31-year-old who is making his 100th start as a member of the PGA TOUR this week. He’s ranked 37th on the FedExCup thanks to his second place in Houston and four other top-13 finishes in his record of 13-for-17. Contributing to everything is a 37-round TOUR in the 1960s. That leads to Sungjae Im by two and a trio in third by six. Hubbard cashed in each of the first three events that came out of the break, but has yet to collect four rounds. With 33rd in Strokes Gained: Putting and T26 at par 5, he could be lighting his own fireworks this weekend.
Maverick McNealy … Suffice it to say that the 24-year-old’s decision to choose professional golf over a career in business has been a good one. After two seasons of preparation on the Korn Ferry Tour, he makes his Rocket Mortgage Classic debut lurking in the Rookie of the Year race. Currently 58th at FedExCup with a T5 in the top four 20 and only three failed cuts in 16 starts, he is fourth in his class on points. There is no doubt that his scoring club is the putter. Overall, he is ranked 22nd in TOUR in Strokes Gained: Putting, 31st in put: birdies-or-better and 10th in revolver.
Peter Uihlein … With a T14 at Colonial to reopen the season, he showed that he was ready to play again. It wasn’t the first time he had a solid week in Fort Worth, either, but last year’s T13 didn’t translate into success at the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic. The cut in number was lost. This means that it is time for a second chance for the 30-year-old man on parole. Nothing jumps off the page analytically over time, but it was ranked T17 in the Green Hits at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Chesson Hadley … He missed the cut here last year during what was largely a long 2019 calendar year on the ropes with 14 MCs spanning 22 starts. She turned around in the fall, but resumed the top-down shape that must feel promising and demotivating at the same time. That’s the life of a touring professional for you, but his tee-to-green game is a place of encouragement. It is ranked 32nd on the fairways hit, 28th on regulation greens and the T20 near the hole. He’s even number 40 at turning GIR into torque breakers, but when he loses his targets, there’s a lot of pressure on his putter that helps explain the inconsistency. Smaller greens like those at the Detroit Golf Club benefit strikers who don’t measure up to the greens, and the T23 finished on similarly sized Colonial surfaces just three weeks ago.
Dominic Bozzelli … Loaded with conditional status this season, playing time is restricted, so he licks his chops at every opportunity. His form in 2020, albeit in just five starts, his last at the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass, is not inspiring, but he was more than comfortable on the greens at the Detroit Golf Club last year. He made the most of the penultimate place (out of 71) on successful greens by ranking ninth in boring sets on those opportunities. This has been his calling card throughout his young career. He is currently second on the TOUR to put: birdies-or-better.
NOTE: Sleeper is a relative term, so Rob uses unofficial criteria to determine who qualifies. Each of the following is generally determined to be ineligible for this weekly staple: Tournament winners in the host’s current course; winners in the same season; recent major champions; top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking; Recent participants in team competitions.
