Today the PGA TOUR Returns To Detroit After a 10-Year Layoff

One of the best parts about the PGA TOUR is that fans get to experience events all around the world throughout a season and almost anyone can find an event near them to attend. Detroit, however, did not have this luxury for the past decade and now will welcome golf back to its city this weekend.

The last time Detroit hosted the PGA TOUR was back in 2009 when the Buick Open was played for the last time. But now, the city will get the opportunity to host a new event, the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

And the Rocket Mortgage Classic is attracting some of the best players in the world, including Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler. I’m sure the purse of $7.3 million helped persuade them to head up to the Motor City but for younger players, this tournament also doubles as a qualifier for The Open Championship next month.

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Detroit is certainly happy to have the event in their backyard this weekend but the PGA TOUR is also ecstatic about the partnership.

“It’s a market we always wanted to go back to and we’re thrilled that we will now have that chance,” PGA TOUR commissioner Jay Monahan said. “Given that an integral part of our mission is to generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which we play, this is such a perfect fit. The revival of Detroit, in part thanks to the leadership at Quicken Loans and its family of companies, is incredible, and we’re thrilled to be part of it with this new event.”

As Monahan was saying, the fact that this event is back in Detroit shows how far the city has come. The once proud industrial town has taken a beating thanks to economic downturns that severely impacted the auto industry, many who grew up in Detroit are doing their best to revitalize the city and put it back on the map. And while having a PGA TOUR event is only a small part of that process, every small step counts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Rocket Mortgage Classic is set to kick off today and could prove to be a good spot for players to prepare for The Open. And no matter how the tournament is going, you know the stands will be packed with Detroit faithful to cheer on their favorite players.

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