Fans chanted Rickie Fowler's first name at Detroit Golf Club on Sunday afternoon after he sunk a putt to win his first PGA tour event since 2019. His wallet will be pleased with the feat, too.
With the victory, Fowler won $1.6 million of the $8.8 million purse in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. His reported 2023 net worth of $45-50 million will increase from that payout, and the gain in reputation could lead to an uptick in future sponsorship funds.
"It's hard to put it all into words," said Fowler after winning the event. "Obviously, a lot of good stuff this year. I knew it was just a matter of time with how I've been playing."
The 34-year-old has racked up lucrative sponsorship deals as a fan favorite on the tour. Cobra, Puma, TaylorMade, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Rocket Mortgage and Farmers Insurance are reportedly among the companies that have given financial backing.
Fowler finished this weekend's tournament 24-under par before edging out Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin by a stroke in the playoff. Fans were ecstatic to watch him overcome a series of near-misses in recent outings. They enjoyed this triumph.
"Rickie BURIES a birdie putt after an incredible save and wins for the first time in over 4 years," wrote American pundit Pat McAfee. "HELLL YEAH @RickieFowler... HELLLLLLLL YEAH."
Added CBS Sports' Patrick McDonald: "10/10 reaction. The big exhale, Hadwin clapping in the background, the grown men in orange. The game of golf is better when Rickie Fowler is winning."
Fowler, who entered Detroit Golf Club ranked No. 35, hadn't won a PGA event for 1,610 days. His last victory came in the Waste Management Phoenix Open on February 3, 2019. Once ranked fourth in the world, the native of Murrieta, California, dropped out of the top 100 for a stretch before a recent uptick in performance.
It's been an emotional return to the top, the golfer admitting after his win that there was a time he didn't believe he would ever fully regain his form.
Fowler needed to brush away the sting of what happened in Los Angeles in the U.S. Open to pull through in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He fell apart down the stretch in LA as another winnable competition slipped from his grasp. He also faded late in last week's Travelers Championship.
However, there would not be any disappointment in Detroit - only long-awaited tears of happiness.
"I'll soak this one in and celebrate a bit," Fowler told reporters as he appeared overwhelmed by his emotions. "It's been a long road.
"You never really know with this game. You definitely learn to appreciate the good times when you're playing well. Sometimes the struggles last longer than you hope. Being that I've been one of the best players in the world, plenty of good finishes and wins, I knew what I was capable of but it's tough when you're struggling for that long a period of time."
