Rickie Fowler 'best he's ever felt' after Rocket Mortgage Classic win

Rickie Fowler stood back and took a huge sigh of relief after holing his first winning putt on the PGA Tour for over 1,600 days at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

After enduring a 10-hole stretch without a birdie in the last round at Detroit Golf Club, the tournament looked to be getting away from Fowler as Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin began to circle.

A much-needed birdie came on 18 to make the playoff with Morikawa and Hadwn and despite a wayward drive on the first extra hole, Fowler found himself 11 feet from the cup to win the tournament – and he kindly obliged.

Fowler was joined by his daughter Maya after claiming his sixth PGA Tour trophy, which made ending his winless drought dating back to 2019 all the more memorable.

“It was tough just because everything else in my life was amazing and then to have the one thing that I obviously love doing – it’s not everything to me but it’s a big part of my life – it was the missing link,” Fowler said.

“So to have everything start to click and come together, and obviously all this started prior to Maya being born. It’s been an amazing ride.

You can see the relief in Rickie’s face! 😍

It’s his 6th PGA Tour win! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/w47Cl4VU8A
— National Club Golfer (@NCG_com) July 2, 2023

“To finally get one finished off, Maya may or may not really ever remember it, but at least we’ll have some special images to help her remember today.”

The popular American had eyes on a win in 2023 from the start of this season, and also qualification for the Ryder Cup in Italy in September.

Having now added a victory to nine top-20 finishes in his previous 10 events, including a strong run at the US Open, Fowler might’ve just confirmed his spot for Team USA – if his selection wasn’t virtually clear anyway.

After falling to 185th in the world rankings on September 11, 2022, his lowest mark since 2010, Fowler made significant changes to his backroom staff which have now proved crucial.

One week later, he had Ricky Romano back on the bag and he was reunited with Butch Harmon and this led to an immediate up-turn in form at the Fortinet Championship.

“Both have been great partnerships. Butch was nothing new since we worked together for quite a while through the middle part of my career,” Fowler added. “Our split was really just because he stopped traveling, and then things weren’t working the last few years.

“I’m not someone that necessarily needs a whole lot of attention from a coach or anything like
that. I think over the last 10 months or so I think I’ve seen Butch four times.

“So it’s more the communication and talking and going back and forth and him looking at videos or what he sees on TV or stuff he can see on course from, like I said, TV or on the Tour app or whatever it may be.

“That’s been big because I think Butch – he’s the best golf coach out there.

“He does a great job with players, taking what they have and ultimately I think making them the best that they can be with who they are and how they swing and make what they do well that much better and bring up the weaknesses.”

Golf fans have retained the version of Rickie Fowler they all recognise, which makes for exciting times with The 151st Open on the horizon, as well as the biennial match with Europe a matter of months away.

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.