2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Moves To May 26 – 31

2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic Moves To May

Following a successful debut in June 2019, Detroit’s Rocket Mortgage Classic has been rescheduled for May 26 – 31 in 2020.

The change was one of several made to accommodate the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, in which golf will once again be a medal sport.

The tournament will fall between the PGA Championship and the US Open — not a bad spot if you want to attract players in search of some reps between Majors.

As a Michigander, I also think it could be a better choice, weather-wise. It should be a tad cooler and less likely to have thunderstorms.

On the down side, that places the tournament in the same week as the Detroit Grand Prix, which might be a logistical nightmare for traffic, and could potentially cut into ticket sales. It’s also before schools let out in the Detroit area, which could hurt weekday attendance. Since much of the tournament’s charitable efforts focus on education, the move also could put a bit of a damper on that.

On the other hand, maybe some of those schools could organize field trips to the tournament. It would be nearly impossible to justify in the face of state education standards, but could be a good experience for the kids nonetheless.

James Langwell, the Rocket Mortgage Classic’s Executive Director put a good face on the change:

“We couldn’t be more excited about the dates the PGA TOUR has provided us, and we are looking forward to holding to another phenomenal tournament in 2020. Not only will the Rocket Mortgage Classic be a great way to kick off summer in Detroit immediately after the Memorial Day holiday, but we will once again have our tournament fall between two major championships – the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. We are confident that the Rocket Mortgage Classic will be an attractive option for many of the world’s top players, and allow us to recruit another exceptional field, just as we did for our inaugural tournament.

“With the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Detroit Grand Prix being held during the same week, we will have another excellent opportunity to shine a bright, international spotlight on the city of Detroit. Viewers will have a front-row seat to some of the best excitement and energy Detroit has to offer. 

“We are just 10 months away from next year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, and we have already begun preparations to ensure another world-class event in a world-class city.”