The player making the biggest splash at Detroit Golf Club on Thursday afternoon was 2 over par through four holes.
It goes and shows the truth in that old adage: It’s not how you start but how you finish.
And although Michael Brennan is not done yet, his response to the early adversity at the Rocket Classic is all but certain to generate praise as the 24 year old used a string of eight consecutive birdies to skyrocket up the leaderboard and move inside the top 5 with six holes to play.
Brennan extended the streak to eight with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-4 13th. A ninth birdie could not be found at No. 14 as Brennan putted in for par.
EIGHT IN A ROW– LONGEST BIRDIE RUN OF THE SEASON 🤯
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 30, 2026
Michael Brennan is on a serious heater 🔥 https://t.co/CH2w1huAtu pic.twitter.com/1ORMs47NgI
The Wake Forest alum became the first player on the PGA Tour with eight straight birdies or better since Matt McCarty’s final round at the 2025 Baycurrent Classic.
Nine consecutive birdies is the Tour record, shared by Mark Calcavecchia (2009 RBC Canadian Open) and Kevin Chappell (2019 Military Tribute at Greenbrier).
Brennan, who is playing in his fifth straight event, ranks 106th in FedExCup scoring. He finished T-24 at TPC Twin Cities a week ago, good for his third finish inside the top 25 this year.
You can watch Brennan’s opening round live on Golf Channel.
