Sam Stevens vs. Matt McCarty

Sam Stevens has the kind of ball-striking profile that tends to hold up on a golf course still figuring out how it wants to play, and that's the situation at Detroit Golf Club this week. The composite layout underwent a real renovation for its final playing, and a historically generous test now punishes loose iron play, especially before the field settles in over the first couple of rounds. Matt McCarty is a capable ball-striker in his own right, but the two-shot cushion here gives Stevens room to win the tee-to-green battle without needing a career round to cover the number. A course this unfamiliar to the entire field rewards discipline over flash, and that's the case for Stevens carrying the number home. Stevens is the right side here.