Rickie Fowler rolls into Rocket vying for return to winner’s circle

Rickie Fowler ended a four-year winless streak on the PGA Tour in June 2023, capturing victory in a dramatic three-man playoff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. As he prepares to tee off on Thursday at the Detroit Golf Club, North Course, Fowler aims to become the tournament’s first back-to-back winner. “I’m looking forward to being back and picking up where we left off last year,” Fowler said on Wednesday. “I haven’t played as well since then, so it would be great to get things going again here at the Rocket.”

The 35-year-old golfer has faced challenges this season, missing the cut three times, including twice this month. However, he showed signs of improvement last week with a T20 finish at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Fowler started strong with an opening round of 64, putting him just two strokes off the lead. He then posted consecutive 69s before closing with a 65, finishing 13-under-par for the tournament. “I started to score better last week, which is key in this game, putting up good numbers. My putting was solid,” Fowler commented. “It was the first week where I saw good progress, building some momentum and confidence for this week.”

In last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic, Fowler triumphed over Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin with a clutch 12-foot birdie on the opening playoff hole. This Thursday, he will compete alongside Will Zalatoris and Cam Davis, the 2021 Rocket Mortgage Classic champion. “I feel like it’s a straightforward, classic golf course,” Fowler said. “If you can get to the green, it becomes a contest of who can sink more putts throughout the week.”

Fowler emphasized putting as the critical factor for his potential repeat victory. He was 12th in shots gained putting in the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic and entered the final round 20-under-par. “We don’t often play on old-school golf courses like this, so it’s a treat for those of us who appreciate classic course design,” Fowler noted. “With good memories from last year’s win and despite a slow start to this year, I’m hoping to reignite some of that success and enjoy the game this week.”