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Just two weeks after narrowly missing out on a major title, Rickie Fowler has returned to the winner’s circle on the PGA TOUR for the first time since 2019 by capturing the Rocket Mortgage Classic. This comes as no surprise to anyone who follows golf, Fowler has been trending upward all season.
As an underdog favorite headed into the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, his strong play propelled him to the 54-hole lead before finishing the week T5. Fowler followed that up with another strong performance at the Travelers Championship where he finished top 15 for the 12th time this season.
A former top-10 player in the world, Rickie has been on a journey that’s relatable to all golfers. Being in place where you think you’ve figured this game out, to the game humbling you quickly, to grinding your way back to prominence.
This year, he’s been one of the most prominent statistical stories in golf. In seemingly every facet of the game, he generated underlying metrics that foreshadowed his return to the winner’s circle.
Fowler ranked 150th on TOUR in strokes gained approach a season ago. This year? He’s inside the top-10. He’s up nearly 50 spots this season in strokes gained off the tee. He’s more than 100 spots better in strokes gained putting. If you’re more inclined to bank on traditional statistics, consider his greens in regulation: from 186th a season ago, to a stout 29th on TOUR in 2023. It’s added up to ranking 11th on TOUR in scoring average this season.
There’s been a fair amount of change that brought Rickie back to this point. Swing changes, a new-old coach and swapping out caddies, for starts. Through it all, his trust in TP5 golf and TP Glove remained tried and true (although he did recently shift from pix to the standard model).
This week at the Rocket Mortgage, he controlled his TP5 on approach shots, off the tee and around the green. It was a complete performance featuring the most complete TOUR ball in golf. He was 2nd in Strokes Gained Approach, 3rd in Strokes Gained Tee to Green and 14th in Strokes Gained Around the Green. He was solid off the tee, as well, averaging 309-yard drives and gaining 1,196 strokes.
Rickie was two of nine in converting 54-hole leads on the PGA TOUR prior to the Rocket Mortgage. His strong play in the final round included 4 birdies and was highlighted by a clutch bird on the first playoff hole to secure the win. This takes an already strong season to the next level for the ballyhooed fan favorite.