The Rocket Classic will have a new spot on the PGA Tour schedule in 2026
The Rocket Classic is getting a new tee time in 2026.
While the full PGA Tour schedule has yet to be released, the Rocket Classic will be moving back in the schedule. The new dates of July 30-Aug. 2 will push the tournament after the British Open, which is scheduled for July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale next year.
The new dates, announced during the Sunday, June 29, final round, works well for both tournament and club.
Tournament organizers have long struggled to attract the most popular golfers to the event. Part of that is the tournament is not a 'signature' event on the tour, a status that is unlikely to change anytime soon due to cost.
But it was also partly because of its position on the schedule, where it is preceded by the U.S. Open and the Travelers Championship (a signature event) and succeeded by the Scottish Open, all events with much bigger purses than the Rocket.
This combination has resulted in many top golfers choosing to skip the event to rest and prepare for the bigger events, which has in turn made Detroit a less prestigious tournament to the chagrin of its organizers. With the new late July/early August date, golfers who are near the cut line of the FedEx Cup playoffs may choose to play the tournament, which will strengthen the field.
For the club, the new dates will allow them to complete renovations on the course. Detroit Golf Club plans to spend $16.1 million dollars renovating greens and bunkers as well as removing the pond on the 14th hole. The course will also be lengthened by 300 yards.
With the extra weeks, the course will have more time to mature and will thus play faster, which both the golfers and the PGA Tour like.
The movement of the tournament also means that it may be more likely to stay in Detroit. The organizers' unhappiness with the position on the schedule has long been a sticking point, and the Classic is only under contract through 2026, though there is an option for Rocket Companies to extend through 2027. Getting a new date and increasing the strength of the field will likely help the tournament remain in Detroit.
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