Rickie Fowler Recaptured His Form After Reuniting With Coach Butch Harmon

Fowler completed his turnaround by winning last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Author:
Bob Harig
Publish date:
Jul 9, 2023

It was hardly a fast turnaround, as Rickie Fowler had been struggling for years. But since returning to coach Butch Harmon last fall, there had been slow, steady progress, culminating in his victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.

Fowler had contended at the U.S. Open – he set a U.S. Open scoring record with a first-round 62 and was the 54-hole leader before shooting a final-round 75 to tie for fifth. He also had top-10 finishes at the Memorial, the Charles Schwab and the Phoenix Open. Late last year, he tied for second at the ZOZO Championship.

“It was spectacular,’’ Harmon said in an interview on Sirius-XM Radio. “I think my anxiety was probably the same level as his was when he was playing, just because I wanted it for him so bad. To come from 185^th in the world all the way to 23^rd in eight months is an incredible journey that he’s taken. (Fowler also crack the top 20 in the Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings.)

“I think this one meant more to me personally than a lot of the majors that I’ve won with different guys, just because I know how far down Rickie was, and to watch him come back, it was a joy to watch.’’

Because Harmon rarely travels to events anymore, Fowler had gone in another direction. But last year, he started making changes. He switched caddies and decided to move on from instructor John Tillery and go back to Harmon, whom he could communicate with via video and visit in Las Vegas.

Harmon said he worked with Fowler to change his takeaway as he believes the golfer’s swing had become too flat. That was some fortitude that helped Fowler, too.

“He stepped up to the plate and got the job done,’’ Harmon said. “And that’s what you have to do to prove to yourself that you’re back at the top of your game, and I think that’s the thing that impressed me the most.’’

Fowler is part of this week’s field at the Genesis Scottish Open, a co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour that will see the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Xander Schauffele compete at the Renaissance Club in Gullane, Scotland.