As the Rocket Classic Presented by AlumniFi prepares to tee off for the final time this weekend, the Rocket Community Fund today announced a $4.5 million legacy gift to create lasting opportunities for Detroit families and young people.
The PGA Tour tournament also announced it will feature the strongest field in its history at the Detroit Golf Club. It also unveiled new fan experiences for 2026.
A significant portion of the Rocket Community Fund’s investment — $3.5 million — will bring affordable, high-speed internet to public housing communities across Detroit. Through a partnership with DigitalC and the Detroit Housing Commission, up to 2,400 households and 6,000 residents will gain reliable internet access.
“Too many families are still forced to navigate school, work, health care, and everyday life without internet access,” says Laura Grannemann, executive director of the Rocket Community Fund and Gilbert Family Foundation. “This investment removes that barrier by ensuring more Detroit residents can get online, stay connected and access opportunities.”
In July 2025, Rocket Community Fund supported a pilot program with DigitalC to bring free high-speed home internet access to 450 families in Detroit Housing Commission communities. This new investment expands upon the pilot program, bringing affordable internet access to thousands more residents that have historically been left behind by traditional internet service providers.
Before becoming CEO of DigitalC, Joshua Edmonds served as the City of Detroit’s first director of digital inclusion under former Mayor Mike Duggan, where he partnered closely with Rocket and the Rocket Classic to launch the Changing the Course initiative.
“The last mile is often the hardest, but it is also the most important,” says Edmonds, “Through the Detroit Last Mile Initiative, public, private, and philanthropic partners will connect more residents and neighborhoods to the internet.”
The investment from Rocket also includes $1 million to establish the Own the Dream Youth Scholarship Fund, creating a lasting source of support for Detroit students pursuing college and post-secondary education.
The scholarships awarded through the Own the Dream Youth Scholarship Fund will go to participants of College, Career & Beyond and First Tee of Greater Detroit, two organizations that increase youth access to the game of golf. The endowed funds will be managed by the Children’s Foundation of Michigan.
For more information about Rocket and Rocket Community Fund’s ongoing commitments, visit rocketcommunityfund.org.
On the renovated Detroit Golf Club course, the Rocket Classic will have the strongest field in its history in its last edition.
Even with former World No. 1 Jason Day withdrawing from the event due to a lingering back injury, the 2026 Rocket Classic features four of the current World’s Top 10 players, as well as 13-time PGA Tour winner and three-time major champion Jordan Spieth.
The field includes:
Cameron Young – World No. 3
Russell Henley – World No. 5
Chris Gotterup – World No. 7; three-time PGA Tour winner this season
Wyndham Clark – World No. 9; 2023 and 2026 U.S. Open champion
J.J. Spaun – World No. 14; 2025 U.S. Open winner
Xander Schauffele – World No. 15; Two-time major champion
Si Woo Kim – World No. 18
Ben Griffin – World No. 19
Hideki Matsuyama – World No. 30; 2021 Masters champion
Akshay Bhatia – World No. 32; 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational winner
Patrick Cantlay – World No. 39
Rickie Fowler – World No. 41; 2023 Rocket Classic champion
Keegan Bradley – World No. 43; 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain
Nico Echavarria – World No. 54; 2026 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches winner
Sungjae Im – World No. 77
Brooks Koepka – Five-time major championship winner
Tony Finau – 2022 Rocket Classic champion
Aldrich Potgieter – Defending Rocket Classic champion
Cameron Davis – Two-time Rocket Classic winner (2021 and 2024)
Ricky Castillo – 2026 Puerto Rico Open winner
Brandt Snedeker – 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic winner
Ryan Ruffels – Popular YouTube golfer will be granted the final sponsor exemption into the tournament
The Rocket Classic Presented by AlumniFi also is unveiling a series of new events and fan experiences for its final year.
Tonight, PGA Tour pros Keegan Bradley, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Russell Henley, Xander Schauffele, and Cameron Young will tee off from the fifth-floor roof of the Traver/USB Building in downtown Detroit to a temporary par 3 hole set up 117 years and 90 feet below in Nick Gilbert Way. Student partners from First Tee – Greater Detroit and the Midnight Golf Program’s College, Career and Beyond take the putts on the green.
The festivities will be broadcast at 7 p.m. on WXYZ-TV7.
The Rocket Classic’s lineup of partner activations, fan-friendly experiences, and giveaways at Detroit Golf Club include concerts at the Motown Museum Music Stage at Detroit Golf Club planned for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 30-Aug. 1.
New fan experiences include:
- The debut the Rocket Dream Nine, a first-of-its-kind PGA Tour activation featuring a nine-hole immersive mini golf course spread across three activation sites throughout the course. Each site will celebrate and bring to life different motifs that represent and showcase Detroit through the built environment and experience — design, music, and food. These fan zones are located around No. 2 green, No. 5 tee, and No. 11 green on the restored Detroit Golf Club course.
- The Range Presented by Bedrock is a new fan destination designed for relaxation, entertainment, and socializing throughout tournament week. Open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., fans can unwind in a large, covered lounge tent with seating, enjoy full bar service, take in the action from Adirondack chair viewing areas, visit the cigar lounge and test their skills in a hole-in-one challenge. The Range also will feature family-friendly entertainment, including caricature artists and face painters, while the Motown Museum Music Stage will showcase live performances by Hitsville NEXT and other local artists between 4–7 p.m. each day, Thursday through Saturday, following tournament play.
Concession stands will continue the tradition of honoring recent Rocket Classic champions with a signature menu item inspired by the tournament’s defending champion. This year, fans can order the A.P. Gatsby Sandwich, named in honor of 2025 winner Aldrich Potgieter. The sandwich features seasoned ribeye, mozzarella, crispy French fries, fresh vegetables, and house-made peri-peri aioli served on a toasted brioche hoagie.
Fans also can head to The Grove, located near holes 10 and 11, which will feature Detroit’s own Smokey G’s Smokehouse serving its most popular menu items, along with an AlumniFi putting green. Fans can earn points to redeem for prizes in the AlumniFi Zone, compete for Greyson Clothiers gift cards and visit the DTE Energy activation, featuring EV charging demonstrations, games and prizes.
Guests 21 and older can also visit the Espresso Martini Lounge near the ninth green for signature espresso martinis and live entertainment during tournament week, or enjoy the Classic Caddie, a signature cocktail served in a collectible souvenir cup featuring Maestro Dobel Silver Tequila, raspberry syrup, Simply Pineapple juice, and a lime garnish. During Rocket Classic Power Hour, fans ages 21 and older can celebrate Detroit’s 313 spirit with $3.13 off alcoholic beverages at all public concession stands.
Families are covered, too. Kids ages 15 and under will receive a complimentary meal voucher, courtesy of United Dairy of Michigan, redeemable at concession stands throughout the course.
Beyond the tournament’s featured fan destinations, there will be even more to discover at Detroit Golf Club. Charity Row will welcome philanthropic partners Black Tech Saturdays; Human-I-T; First Tee – Greater Detroit; College, Career & Beyond | Midnight Golf; Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) and People for Palmer Park – giving fans the opportunity to learn more about each organization’s mission while enjoying daily giveaways.
Fans looking to test their own game can stop by the Long Game Lounge presented by Plante Moran Wealth Management, located near the 1899 Heritage Club on the right side of the 10th fairway and behind the 14th green, to play a simulated version of Detroit Golf Club and compare their performance to the PGA Tour stars competing that week.
The Rocket Classic Merchandise Tent also will feature new apparel vendors, including adidas, lululemon, Good Good Golf and Detroit-based brands Kiwiclo, Kiloh & Co. and Del Campo Socks.
Wednesday, July 29 is Detroit Community Day. All fans can take advantage of complimentary parking and admission to watch the Delta Dental Pro-Am throughout the day and enjoy the First Tee – Greater Detroit Youth Clinic Presented by United Dairy Industry of Michigan from 4-5:30 p.m. Kids can meet, greet and take photos with PGA TOUR professionals, learn golf fundamentals and enjoy complimentary food and refreshments.
Thursday, July 30 is the first round of the Rocket Classic and has been designated as Bow Tie Day, created to honor the memory of Nick Gilbert, son of Dan and Jennifer Gilbert, to spread awareness about neurofibromatosis (NF). NF is a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerve pathways throughout the body. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common form of the disease, affecting approximately one in every 2,500 births.
To help fans stay cool and comfortable all week long, Rocket will offer a variety of on-course amenities. Rocket Cool Zones featuring fans and water misters will be located near the 9th and 17th greens, as well as between the 11th and 13th greens. Complimentary Rocket Water Stations will also be available near the 9th, 16th, and 18th greens, making it easy for fans to refill reusable water bottles.
Many of these areas are prime locations to watch the most golf action. With the expansion of additional areas around the 18th green for grounds pass holders to watch players coming down the stretch, there are more prime sightlines across the golf course than ever before.
Tickets are available at rocketclassic.com. Grounds tickets for Thursday and Friday are $68 per day, and Saturday and Sunday tickets are $78 per day. Special rates for groups of 10 or more, plus student rates and military discounts, will be available. Kids 15 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult (up to four kids per adult).
