Detroit is a sports town built on grit and long droughts. It made sense, then, that the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic became the site of golf’s most emotional comeback. You probably remember the scene at Detroit Golf Club. Rickie Fowler, the man who spent years as the face of the PGA Tour before falling off a cliff in the world rankings, stood over a twelve-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole.
He drained it.
The roar was deafening. It wasn’t just a win for Rickie; it was a relief for anyone who has ever rooted for a guy who seemed to have lost his "it" factor.
The Long Road to Detroit
Before we talk about the Sunday drama, you have to remember where Rickie was. Honestly, it was bleak. He entered the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic having gone 1,610 days without a trophy. Think about that. Over four years of questions about whether his best days were behind him, whether he was just a "marketing guy" now, and whether he’d ever find that swing again after plummeting to 185th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Golf is a brutal game because it’s lonely. When your swing leaves you, it feels like it’s gone forever. But Fowler went back to his old coach, Butch Harmon. They simplified things. By the time he rolled into Michigan in late June, the momentum was building. He had been knocking on the door for weeks, including a heartbreaking Sunday at the U.S. Open just a few weeks prior.
Detroit Golf Club is a classic Donald Ross design. It isn't the longest track on tour, but it demands precision and, more importantly, a red-hot putter. If you aren't going low here, you’re going home. The 2023 edition proved that early on.
Saturday's Surge and the Sunday Logjam
The leaderboard was stacked. It wasn't just Rickie. You had Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion, looking like his vintage self. You had Adam Hadwin, the gritty Canadian who seems to thrive in these shootout environments.
By Saturday evening, Fowler held a one-shot lead after a 64. But "moving day" in Detroit is always a bit chaotic. The scores were so low it felt like a video game.
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Sunday arrived with high stakes. The humidity was thick. The crowds were massive. Detroit loves Rickie, and the "Orange Crush" fans were out in full force. But then, things got tight. Fowler didn't run away with it. In fact, he looked like he might let it slip.
Morikawa was relentless. Hadwin was steady.
As they turned to the back nine, it became a three-way dogfight. The tension was palpable because everyone knew what a win would mean for Rickie. It wasn't just about the $1.58 million winner's check or the 500 FedEx Cup points. It was about validation. It was about proving that the changes he made with Butch Harmon were real.
The 72nd Hole Miracle
Every great tournament has "the shot." For the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, it happened on the 18th hole in regulation.
Fowler needed a birdie to force a playoff. He was one shot back of Morikawa and Hadwin, who were already in the clubhouse at 24-under par. He pushed his drive into the right rough. It looked over. The lie was mediocre. The pressure was astronomical.
Then, he hit a 145-yard approach shot that landed soft and checked up just three feet from the hole. It was arguably the best shot of his career given the circumstances. He tapped in for birdie.
Suddenly, we had a three-man playoff.
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That Playoff Putter
They went back to the 18th tee. Morikawa and Hadwin both found the fairway. Fowler? He went right again. He was in the trampled-down grass where the gallery had been standing all day.
If you’re a golf nerd, you know that those lies are unpredictable. But Fowler stayed calm. He floated a wedge onto the green, giving himself about 12 feet for the win. Morikawa and Hadwin both missed their birdie looks.
Rickie didn't.
He stepped up and rolled it right into the heart. No hesitation. No doubt. The celebration wasn't an explosion of anger or ego; it was a smile of pure, unadulterated joy. He grabbed his caddie, Ricky Romano, and you could see the weight of 1,610 days falling off his shoulders.
Key Stats from the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic
- Winning Score: 24-under par (264)
- Playoff Participants: Rickie Fowler, Collin Morikawa, Adam Hadwin
- Fowler’s Final Round: 68 (-4)
- Birdies on 18: Fowler birdied the 18th hole twice in about twenty minutes to seal the deal.
- Course Record Note: Peter Kuest and others flirted with low numbers all week, but the greens stayed just fast enough to keep the field honest.
Why This Tournament Still Matters
Looking back, the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic was a turning point for the PGA Tour's middle-summer stretch. Often, tournaments held after the U.S. Open can feel like a letdown. Not this one.
It reminded everyone why we watch sports. We love the "fallen star" narrative. We love the guy who has to work twice as hard to get back to where he once was. Rickie’s win was a win for the grinders.
It also solidified Detroit Golf Club as a premier venue. People used to say the course was too easy, that 24-under is a "birdie-fest" that doesn't test the pros. But when you see three world-class players battling into a playoff, the "ease" of the course doesn't matter. The pressure creates the difficulty.
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Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Round
You might not be playing for a million dollars in Detroit, but Rickie’s performance offers some real-world lessons for the average weekend warrior.
1. Fix the Foundation, Not the Symptoms
Fowler spent years trying to band-aid his swing. It wasn't until he went back to Butch Harmon and focused on his "old" move—shortening the backswing and staying on plane—that things changed. If your slice is killing you, stop buying new drivers. Go see a pro and fix your path.
2. The 18th Hole Mentality
Rickie was a shot down with one hole to play. Most amateurs would try to "kill" the ball out of the rough. He stayed within himself, trusted his yardage, and focused on the landing spot. Golf is played one shot at a time, regardless of how much you're trailing.
3. Putting is the Great Equalizer
Morikawa hit the ball arguably better than anyone that week. But in the playoff, it came down to a 12-footer. If you want to lower your handicap, spend 70% of your practice time within 10 feet of the hole.
4. Handling the "Drought"
If you’re in a slump, don't change your equipment every week. Stick to a process. Rickie’s win was the result of six months of consistent "good" finishes before the "great" finish happened. Progress isn't a straight line; it's a series of plateaus.
The 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic wasn't just another stop on the calendar. It was the moment Rickie Fowler became a winner again, and it’s a blueprint for anyone trying to find their way back to the top.