Follow us on Google Discover Rickie Fowler got off to a flying start at the Rocket Classic on Thursday, firing a sensational 63.
Fowler’s last PGA Tour win came at the Rocket Classic way back in 2023, and he will be desperate to return to the PGA Tour winners’ circle this week in Detroit.
The 37-year-old from Murrieta, California, has been in the golfing doldrums for far too long now, and he is working incredibly hard to rediscover his very best form.
Rickie Fowler has shown signs that he is close to returning to his best, but one poor round each week seems to totally derail him.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
His opening-round 63 at the Rocket Classic was certainly proof that he still has the ability required to contend on the PGA Tour.
Fowler has struggled with his putting on the PGA Tour over the past few years. His putting used to be his strength, so it’s easy to see why he hasn’t been able to win for three years now.
However, he gained just over two strokes on the field with his putter on Thursday at Detroit Golf Club, so the signs for a potential resurgence are looking good.
Rickie Fowler unhappy about PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic decision
The 37-year-old was visibly delighted after shooting a 63 on day one of the Rocket Classic on Thursday morning.
However, his mood quickly changed when the topic of the Rocket Classic’s future came up.
MORE ROCKET CLASSIC STORIES
Fowler was asked by one reporter after his round on Thursday how he feels about the news that the Rocket Classic will not be on the PGA Tour schedule in 2027.
“Yeah, no, it’s definitely been a bummer to kind of come into this knowing it was the last one,“ Fowler admitted.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“It’s been fun for me to have a partnership with Rocket and see this event make its way here because that was always a dream of theirs to have an event back in Detroit, and to see it continue to grow over the years, felt like it just kept getting bigger and better. That being I think the best that they’ve done continuously.
“It is a bummer, but it’s been a lot of fun, like I said, to be a part of it. Fans have always been great to me here.
“Having the association with Rocket, I think the win in ’23 helped solidify that.
“Yeah, this has always been a fun week for us and a little bittersweet.“
Rickie Fowler’s thoughts on planned PGA Tour changes for 2028
While the Rocket Classic will not be on the PGA Tour schedule in 2027, there will be even more changes coming into play in 2028, with the new Championship Series and Challenger Series set to be implemented.
He was asked whether he is a fan of the proposed changes.
“Yeah, it’s tough to really know until obviously everything’s out,“ he replied.
“I know everyone at the Tour on the board level and higher up than where I’m involved, they’re putting a lot of time and effort and focus on trying to get it as close to right as possible.
“I know a lot of times there’s going to be tweaks here or there. I think it simplifies things and you know kind of going in depending on where you’re at what your schedule is, not having any of this, ‘am I in this event, do I need to go play down or go over here’?
“So is it going to be better? I’m not sure. I think it helps, like I said, simplify things and give a little clearer idea for the player, for the fans.
“So I do think it has the potential to be better than where we currently are of having two to three tours potentially out here over — you know, since I’ve been out. It’s just not maybe talked about as much and now going into a little bit more of an actual structure of that.“
Join Our Newsletter
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox