GOLF.com: 2026 Rocket Classic Round 1 Groupings — Cameron Young Chases Third Win of the Season

Cameron Young Chases Third Win After Near-Miss at The Open

The 2026 Rocket Classic gets underway Thursday at Detroit Golf Club, and the spotlight falls squarely on Cameron Young, the World No. 3 who has already collected two wins this season — the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship.

Young came achingly close to his first major title last week at Royal Birkdale, posting 9-under to hold the clubhouse lead for hours before Ryan Fox's winning putt denied him by a single shot. That runner-up finish sets the stage for what could be a defining stretch run in 2026.

Young tees off at 12:54 p.m. ET alongside J.J. Spaun and Ben Griffin.

Featured Groupings to Watch

Premium Afternoon Wave

- 12:43 p.m. ET (No. 1) — Russell Henley, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka: Three elite ball-strikers who each carry genuine winning credentials. - 1:05 p.m. ET (No. 1) — Jake Knapp, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth: A high-variance group with contrasting styles and motivations.

Morning Headliners

- 7:33 a.m. ET (No. 10) — Jackson Koivun, Wyndham Clark, Keegan Bradley - 7:44 a.m. ET (No. 10) — Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler

Japanese Players in the Field

Five Japanese players are competing: Matsuyama (12:43 PM, No. 1), Ryo Hisatsune (12:32 PM, No. 1), Takumi Kanaya (7:22 AM, No. 10), Keita Nakajima (8:50 AM, No. 10), and Kensei Hirata (8:39 AM, No. 1).

Strokeslab Perspective

The SG story here is whether Young can sustain the momentum that carried him to a near-major. Post-major momentum is one of the most underrated predictors on Tour, and Young's approach game has been elite all season — watch his SG: APP numbers closely.

Broadcast Info

- Golf Channel: 3–6 p.m. ET - ESPN+ / PGA Tour Live: from 7 a.m. ET