Detroit, Michigan – Rickie Fowler finally breaks through on a rainy day in the Motor City as the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic Champion. The former Oklahoma State star survived a three way playoff between Adam Hadwin and Colin Morikawa to secure his sixth PGA Tour victory and his first as a father and married man.
It was the 3rd tournament in the past four weeks that Rickie found himself in contention in the final round. Coming off a tie for 13th at The Travelers Championship and a tie for 5th at the US Open, Rickie opened his week with rounds of 67 and 65. He followed that up with a 64 on Saturday. The weather for Sunday was predicted to be a washout so the Tour decided to move all tee times up to the morning to complete play by the early afternoon. The Sunday morning rounds yielded a few low rounds but none lower than Colin Morikawa, who shot an eight under 64. This put him as the leader in the clubhouse. He had to wait out the remaining groups though to see if his number would be good enough.
Canadien golfer Adam Hadwin and Fowler’s playing partner had himself a solid final round. He managed a birdie at the 15th and 17th to get into a tie for 24 under par with Colin. Rickie came down the back nine and could not buy a birdie. With the birdie-fest that Detroit Golf Club produced, Fowler needed something to catch the leaders. Down one stroke standing just off the fairway on his 72nd hole, Rickie stuffed his approach to three feet for birdie and a spot in the playoff.
The playoff only needed one hole and it was the eighteenth and the hole Rickie birdied just a few minutes prior. Hadwin and Morikawa both split the fairway but Rickie was not so firtunate, slicing his drive way right into the crowd and about 30 yards further from the pin than his competitors. After getting a drop from casual water, Rickie came up clutch again and stuck his approach to about 10 feet. A shock to everyone, Adam came up about 5 feet shorter than Rickie and Colin went long over the green.
After Adam and Colin both missed their third shots, Rickie buried his putt for the win. Rickie immeidately hugged his caddy, kissed his wife and held his 18 month old daughter Maya for a sweet celebratory afternoon.
Next week the Tour heads to Illinois for John Deere Classic.
Rickie Fowler’s Whats in the Bag:
Driver: Cobra Aerojet LS 9 degrees (Mitsubishi Diamana Prototype 70 X)
3-wood: Cobra Aerojet LS 14.5 degrees (Aldila Tour Green 75 TX)
5-wood: Cobra LTDx LS 17.5 degrees (UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X White 8F5)
Irons: Cobra King Forged Tour (4-PW) (KBS Tour C-Taper 125 S+)
Wedges: Cobra King 54, 56, 58 degrees (KBS Tour 610)
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird
Zack Buechner
Latest posts by Zack Buechner (see all)
- Adidas MC80 Spikeless Golf Shoe Review - September 15, 2023
- TaylorMade TP Reserve Putter Review - September 6, 2023
- The 2023 BMW Championship Recap - August 20, 2023
