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Set against the Detroit skyline, six PGA TOUR stars will hit golf shots from atop Bedrock’s historic five-story Traver | UBS building in a first-of-its-kind tournament week event on July 28
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The Rocket Classic field continues to grow with new commitments from nine top-100-ranked players, including World No. 14 Aaron Rai, No. 18 Si Woo Kim and No. 24 Hideki Matsuyama
DETROIT – The Rocket Classic Presented by AlumniFi today announced “Par 3 in the D,” a first-of-its-kind rooftop golf challenge taking place July 28 in downtown Detroit. The event will feature six PGA TOUR players hitting shots from atop Bedrock’s historic five-story Traver | UBS building at 1217 Woodward Avenue, sending golf balls through the Hudson’s Detroit corridor, across Nick Gilbert Way and onto a custom-built green below. Local contracting firm Rhino Recreational Construction has been instrumental in bringing the ambitious concept to life.
Presented by Rocket, Par 3 in the D will feature PGA TOUR stars Keegan Bradley, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Russell Henley, Xander Schauffele and Cameron Young. Competing from a rooftop tee box, each player will have three attempts to land an approximately 100-yard shot on a 40-by-40-foot green positioned at the far end of the plaza. With an elevation drop of 50 to 60 feet, players will need to navigate a challenging shot over Woodward Avenue and through the corridor along Nick Gilbert Way in hopes of claiming the title.
“When we say we’re putting six PGA TOUR players on a rooftop in downtown Detroit and asking them to hit shots over Woodward Avenue, the first reaction is usually, ‘You’re doing what?’” said Mark Hollis, Rocket Classic Tournament Director. “Nothing like this exists anywhere else on the PGA TOUR schedule, and it’s another way we’re bringing golf directly into the city and creating memorable experiences for fans.”
In addition to showcasing the creativity and excitement of tournament week, Par 3 in the D will support Detroit-focused causes. Details on the event’s community impact will be announced in the coming weeks.
While Par 3 in the D will bring a unique new experience to downtown Detroit, fans can also look forward to a strong field at Detroit Golf Club. The Rocket Classic today announced commitments from World No. 14 Aaron Rai, No. 18 Si Woo Kim and No. 24 Hideki Matsuyama.
Rai captured his second PGA TOUR victory and first major championship last month at the 2026 PGA Championship, finishing at nine-under-par 271. A dramatic 69-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole at Aronimink Golf Club helped seal the victory moments before he hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy. He has enjoyed success at the Rocket Classic, recording top-10 finishes in both of his appearances at Detroit Golf Club, including a T9 in 2023 and a runner-up finish in 2024.
The youngest player ever to win THE PLAYERS Championship, Kim captured the title in 2017 at just 21 years old and has since added three more PGA TOUR victories to his resume. He has enjoyed a strong 2026 season, recording two runner-up finishes and eight top-10s while earning more than $6.5 million. This summer will mark his sixth appearance at the Rocket Classic, where he has made the cut in four of five starts and posted a career-best finish of T14 in 2022.
Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, has amassed 11 PGA TOUR victories and more than $65 million in career earnings. Those accomplishments make him the most successful Japanese player in PGA TOUR history. The 2026 Rocket Classic will mark his sixth appearance at Detroit Golf Club, where he recorded career-best finishes of T13 in both 2019 and 2025.
The Rocket Classic field will also feature several winners from the 2026 PGA TOUR season, including newly committed players Ricky Castillo (Puerto Rico Open), Nico Echavarria (Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches) and Brandt Snedeker (ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic). They join previously announced champions Russell Henley (Charles Schwab Challenge) and Cameron Young (THE PLAYERS Championship, Cadillac Championship).
Castillo enters the Rocket Classic ranked No. 93 in the world and sits 58th in the FedExCup standings following his breakthrough victory at the Puerto Rico Open and another top-10 finish this season. He made his Rocket Classic debut in 2025.
Currently ranked No. 52 in the world, Echavarria has captured three PGA TOUR victories since earning his first win in 2023. He has made the cut in two of his three appearances at the Rocket Classic, highlighted by a career-best T6 finish in 2025.
Snedeker, a 10-time PGA TOUR winner, returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2018 with a victory at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in May. He finished at 18-under par, including a five-under-par final round, to claim a one-stroke win. At the Rocket Classic, his best finish came at the inaugural tournament in 2019, where he placed T5.
Four top-10 finishes this season have helped elevate Nicolai Højgaard to No. 33 in the world rankings. He will make his fourth Rocket Classic appearance this summer and has recorded two top-25 finishes at Detroit Golf Club. His identical twin brother, Rasmus Højgaard, also returns to the field after making his Rocket Classic debut last year. Together, the brothers led Denmark to victory at the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship and captured the Eisenhower Trophy.
Defending champion Aldrich Potgieter has also committed to return to Detroit Golf Club. Ranked No. 73 in the world, Potgieter will make his third Rocket Classic appearance after completing one of the tournament’s most remarkable turnarounds – missing the cut in 2024 before winning the title in 2025. His winning score of 22-under par represented a 24-stroke improvement from his debut performance at the Rocket Classic.
For more information on the Rocket Classic and to purchase tickets, visit rocketclassic.com.
About the Rocket Classic
The Rocket Classic made history in 2019 as the first PGA TOUR event ever held in the city of Detroit and has continued to make a positive and lasting impact on the city and its residents through its multi-year “Changing the Course” campaign, established in 2020 to end the digital divide in Detroit and ensure digital accessibility for all city residents. The Rocket Classic was the most awarded event during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season, being recognized for “Best Special Event” (then known as the AREA 313 Celebrity Challenge) and “Best Tournament Sales” as well as being honored with the first “Fair Way Award” for its diversity and inclusion initiatives. The Fair Way Award was bestowed upon the Rocket Classic again in 2023 and 2024, and in 2024 the tournament also received the Best Volunteer Program award. More information is available at RocketClassic.com and on Facebook, X and Instagram (@RocketClassic).
MEDIA CONTACT:
Greg Ball, 760-271-9183, gregb@bzapr.com
IMAGES AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA DOWNLOAD:
Par 3 in the D Renderings (credit Rocket Classic)
