Rickie Fowler Breaks Four-Year Winless Streak at Rocket Mortgage Classic, Outperforming Morikawa and Hadwin in Playoff

Sunday was a victorious day for Rickie Fowler, as he clinched a win that had been eluding him for years.

Fowler stood firm, refusing to falter under pressure, as he had often done in the past. He secured a decisive 12-foot birdie putt on the initial playoff hole at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. In doing so, he surpassed Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin, two weeks after missing a golden opportunity at the U.S. Open.

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“The relief of finally achieving this victory is immense,” Fowler expressed post-win, after a four-year dry spell. “This win definitely calls for a celebration.

“It’s indeed been a tiresome journey.”

Ending a personal worst run of 96 consecutive championship appearances without a win, Fowler overcame his recent close calls in June. He tied for fifth at the U.S. Open with a closing round of 75 and tied for 13th at the Travelers Championship the following week with a 69.

Surrounded by a supportive crowd in Detroit Golf Club’s sea of orange, Fowler fought back against Morikawa’s near-record round. On the tournament’s 72nd hole, he executed an approach from 145 feet that culminated in a 3-foot birdie putt. This helped him to enter a three-way tie with Morikawa and Hadwin at 24 under.

In the playoff, Fowler recovered from a misplaced tee shot with an approach from 184 that stopped just 12 feet from the hole. Morikawa overhit his approach, leading to a rough bounce rather than a spin back to the hole.

Morikawa acknowledged, “I honestly thought I had hit the perfect shot. It just overshot a little and landed in the rough, leaving me with a chip instead of a putt. Not that the chip wasn’t doable, but having a putt would have been preferable.”

Missed shots from both Hadwin and Morikawa opened up the opportunity for Fowler to secure the tournament just before thunderstorms swept over Detroit.

Reflecting on his journey, Fowler admitted, “It was bound to happen considering my recent performances,” referencing his eight top-10 finishes this season. “I’ve come close on a few occasions.”

Although Morikawa was disheartened to lose out on a win he had been striving for since his 2021 British Open victory, he expressed his joy for Fowler.

“He’s been displaying some top-notch golf lately, and it’s wonderful to witness,” Morikawa remarked. “He’s quite a favorite among the fans.”

Morikawa’s round of 8-under left him one shot away from the course record of 63. Hadwin scored a 67 and Fowler a 68.

In the previous month, Fowler shared the 54-hole lead at Los Angeles Country Club, where he was in a strong position to win his first major. He had also shared the lead after three rounds in tournaments for two consecutive years.

Prior to this landmark victory in Detroit, Fowler had only managed to win two out of the ten times he was leading or co-leading in the third round.

This triumphant day saw 34-year-old Fowler claim his sixth PGA Tour win, his first since his success at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Fans of Fowler, who is a prominent ambassador for Rocket Mortgage, chanted his name in encouragement. Crowds around the 18th green were optimistic about his win.

Fowler successfully tackled the relatively simple course despite a string of ten pars, while Morikawa showcased an impressive eight birdies. Morikawa managed to close the gap on Fowler with a birdie at No. 14, equalling him at 23 under.

Other contenders, Peter Kuest (65), Lucas Glover (65), and Taylor Moore (67) were tied for fourth at 21 under. Kuest’s performance earned him a spot in the upcoming John Deere Classic in Illinois.

Due to the forecasted adverse weather, the final round’s schedule was modified. The leading players began Sunday morning nearly five hours earlier than planned, with threesomes commencing on both the front and back nine.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rickie Fowler’s victory

More about Rickie Fowler’s victory

• Rickie Fowler’s Professional Profile
• Rocket Mortgage Classic 2023 Results
• PGA Tour Tournament Schedule
• Waste Management Phoenix Open
• Collin Morikawa’s Professional Profile
• Adam Hadwin’s Professional Profile