Detroit is Homa Sweet Homa this week

The PGA Tour rolls on this week with the Rocket Mortgage Classic from Detroit Golf Club, and if you like birdies, this is the tournament for you. In the four years that Detroit GC has hosted this event, the average winning score has been 23 under par.

The keys to victory this week will be driving and putting. Bombers have had the most success at the Rocket Mortgage Classic because of how friendly most of the tee shots are, plus the rough isn't as penalizing as we see at other venues on the PGA Tour. Bryson DeChambeau created the winning blueprint in 2020 when he bombed and gouged his way to a three-stroke victory, and Tony Finau rode the same strategy to a winning score of 26 under last year.

We won't be seeing the big guns in Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Rory McIlroy this week, so Finau has been tabbed as the co-betting favorite at +1400 alongside Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler.

Travelers Championship best bets

Max Homa top-10 finish (+250 FanDuel)

It's been a disappointing month of June for Homa, as he missed the cut at the U.S. Open on his home turf and then did the same at the Travelers Championship the following week. He enters the Rocket Mortgage Classic in poor form, but he's still the best all-around player in this weak field. Homa ranks eighth on the PGA Tour this year in strokes gained: putting and 33rd in total driving. In a tournament that could turn into a putting contest, we see Homa contending for his third win of the season.

Joseph Bramlett top-40 finish (+115 FD)

If we're targeting bombers who can tear this golf course to shreds, Bramlett has to be on the list. The American ranks 10th on Tour this season in driving distance and 29th in strokes gained: off the tee. The putter has held him back this year, but Bramlett has gained strokes on the green in two straight events and three of his last four starts. We think he has a solid week.

In the news ...

The legend of Shohei Ohtani continues to grow — Just when we think Ohtani can't impress us anymore, he puts up another historic performance. On Tuesday night, the superstar went 6.1 innings on the mound and gave up just one earned run to go along with 10 strikeouts. Oh, and he also went 3-for-3 at the plate with two solo home runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Ohtani now leads MLB in home runs (28), RBIs (64), OPS (1.039), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.0). He's -1450 to win the AL MVP award. 

2023 NHL Draft begins Wednesday night — There isn't much happening in the sports world right now, but hockey fans get something to root for Wednesday night when the 2023 NHL Draft kicks off from Nashville, Tenn. Canadian phenom Connor Bedard is nearly a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, while the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens round out the top five. The Blackhawks are currently +9000 to win the Stanley Cup next season.

Today's Bark Bets is written by Jack Dougherty