YouTube golf personalities Brad Dalke and Ryan Ruffels will compete against PGA Tour professionals at the eighth and final Rocket Classic, held July 30 to Aug.
2 at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit.
Tournament director Mark Hollis awarded two of the event's four sponsor exemptions to the online content creators to attract a younger audience.
The tournament marks the end of a 13-year sponsorship run by Rocket Companies.
Field and Course Highlights
The field features 10 major champions, 21 players inside the world's top 50, and 21-year-old phenom Jackson Koivun, who enters following a victory at the 3M Open.
Detroit Golf Club recently completed a $16.1 million renovation led by architect Tyler Rae, who restored the course closer to its original Donald Ross design by expanding greens and redesigning bunkers.
Dalke, a former NCAA national champion at Oklahoma and runner-up at the 2016 U. S.
Amateur, is making his first PGA Tour start since turning professional.
He previously competed in the 2016 Valero Texas Open, the 2017 Masters, and the 2017 U. S.
Open as an amateur, missing the cut in all three.
He recently finished tied for 30th at the DP World Tour's BMW International Open in Germany.
Dalke expressed enthusiasm for returning to the Motor City a decade after his amateur run.
"I couldn't be more excited to make my PGA TOUR debut at the Rocket Classic while representing Good Good Golf," Dalke said.
"Coming back to Detroit 10 years after competing in the U. S.
Amateur makes this even more special.
I'm grateful to the leaders at Rocket, the Rocket Classic and the PGA TOUR for recognizing how golf is evolving and for embracing new ways to connect content creation with the professional game."
Dalke noted the increased challenge presented by the renovated course layout following a practice match.
"This whole course is unreal," Dalke said. "I just played it yesterday for the first time, and the course is newly renovated.
Off the tee, the course has a U. S.
Open feel with all the fescue around the bunkers. It's really cool.
You have to drive it well and keep it in the fairway."
Ruffels, a two-time Australian Boys' Amateur champion, has made 19 PGA Tour starts since turning professional in 2016, making 11 cuts.
He earned his spot after winning a qualifier event and previously finished tied for 45th at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May.
Ruffels shared his perspective on participating alongside tour veterans ahead of the opening round.
"What an experience Brad and I get to have this week, joining all the big boys," Ruffels said.
"Going to absolutely cherish every bit of it."
Mixed Reactions from Tour Veterans
Tournament organizers highlighted the initiative as an evolution in fan engagement strategies.
"We're always looking for ways to connect with new audiences in Detroit, and continue building one of the most fan-friendly events on the PGA Tour," Hollis said.
Hollis emphasized Dalke's reach within the online golf community as a key factor in the selection.
"Brad has made a tremendous impact both on the course and through the way he connects with fans across different platforms," Hollis said.
The decision to invite content creators drew mixed responses from tour veterans, including Lake Orion native Tom Gillis, who spent decades competing on professional tours.
"I don't really care for it," Gillis said. "I know those two guys, they're both good players, I'm not saying that.
... And (Rocket) can do what they want.
... But I don't understand it.
I really don't."
Gillis noted the contrast between traditional qualification paths and modern sponsor exemptions.
"My son, Trevor, he's 20, he doesn't understand my take on it, but I don't think you understand all those years I labored all over the world trying to get into events.
... It's just a different platform and a world I don't understand that much," Gillis said.
Gillis reiterated his stance on field selection criteria for top-tier events.
"Holding a PGA Tour event, you should have tournament players, not content creators," Gillis said.
The tournament's remaining sponsor exemptions were awarded to Detroiter Joe Hooks, winner of the 2025 John Shippen Invitational, and Alabama golfer William Jennings, winner of the 2025 Folds of Honor Collegiate.
Ruffels is scheduled to tee off Thursday morning, with Dalke scheduled for Thursday afternoon alongside Marco Penge and Luke Clanton.
