DETROIT — Rocket Mortgage buildings in downtown Detroit will be lit up orange Sunday night in honor of the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic winner and fan favorite, Rickie Fowler.
Orange has certainly been the color of the weekend in Detroit. People of all ages came to Detroit Golf Club wearing Fowler’s signature orange to cheer him on in the tournament’s final round. The large group followed him from hole-to-hole, chanting “Rickie! Rickie!” from when he teed off until he sunk his final putt in the afternoon to win the title.
“Just wanted to say thank you to all the fans,” Fowler said. “You guys were amazing. Felt the energy all week. Just appreciate all the support. You guys were always there with me.”
Fowler defeated Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin late Sunday afternoon in a playoff after the three were tied at 24-under after four rounds of play. Fowler birdied the par-4 18th to come away with his first Tour win since 2019.
Golf fans cheer on as they watch Rickie Fowler putts a birdie on the 18th hole at the first round of playoff during the fourth round of Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit on Sunday, July 2, 2023. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA TODAY Network)
Morikawa got some love from the fans as he walked down the course on the 18th, but no one got nearly as much attention from the crowd as Fowler when he made his final stroll to the green.
“He’s been playing amazing golf,” Morikawa said. “It’s not like this is a one-time thing. He’s been playing phenomenal golf, it’s great to see. People love him. The fans still come out to see him no matter how he’s playing, but he’s been playing well.”