American professional golfer Rickie Fowler ended a dry spell of over four years by winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club. Fowler, whose performance had faltered since his last win at the Waste Management Phoenix, had plummeted to a lowly 185th in world rankings.
In early 2023, Fowler reunited with coach Butch Harmon, leading to an improvement in his game and a resurgence of his form. Although he grappled with the final round of the US Open, Fowler ultimately triumphed in Detroit, securing victory in a tense playoff with Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin.
Fowler’s performance was robust throughout the tournament, with three birdies putting him in the running early on. Although the latter half of the game saw Fowler struggle with missed putts and a scramble for par, he managed to secure a crucial birdie on the 18th hole, pushing him into the playoff.
The playoff saw Fowler, Morikawa, and Hadwin on the 18th tee, with Fowler’s shot veering far right onto the spectator’s walkway. Leveraging this lucky break, Fowler managed to place his second shot within 10 feet of the hole. When Hadwin and Morikawa missed their birdie chances, Fowler successfully made his putt, securing the victory.
This win is a significant milestone for Fowler and a strong morale boost as he heads to Europe for the Open Championship in three weeks. Fowler finished second at the last Open Championship held at Hoylake in 2014, where Rory McIlroy took home the title.
