The Rocket Mortgage Classic will have to be a classic this year if it’s going to best 2023’s three-man playoff in which Rickie Fowler won his first PGA Tour title since 2019. It’s all set up for another compelling event with Fowler returning and a crop of the tour’s best making the trip to Detroit Golf Club, so maybe, just maybe we’re in for some fun drama once again.
Fowler held off Adam Hadwin and Collin Morikawa with a birdie on the first playoff hole despite a final-round 64 for Morikawa and a third-round tournament-scoring record 63 by Hadwin. All three held strong on Sunday but a birdie from 12 feet ended things, with Fowler finishing the week at 24 under. He could be the first back-to-back winner in the tournament’s relatively short history if he wins again this go-around.
Fowler, of course, will have plenty of work to do as he’ll be up against top OWGR players like Tom Kim, Cameron Young, Akshay Bhatia, Chris Kirk, Min Woo Lee, Stephan Jaeger and Will Zalatoris.
The 15-year-old wunderkind Miles Russell will be teeing off for his PGA Tour debut as well. He’s the youngest golfer to make a cut on the Korn Ferry Tour, ultimately finishing T-20 at this season’s LECOM Suncoast Classic. Neal Shipley is also set to make his non-major PGA Tour debut after winning low amateur at both the Masters and the U.S. Open.
This week’s winner will receive 500 FedEx Cup points and a $1.65 million cut of the $9 million purse.
