detroit — Rickie Fowler and Rocket Mortgage team up again.
During the first round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, Fowler was again seen wearing the Rocket Mortgage logo on his shirt sleeve. It will not be until 2024 that he will wear the Rocket Mortgage logo on his clothing.
On Thursday, Rocket Mortgage confirmed to The News that the mortgage giant and Fowler have renewed their long-standing sponsorship agreement, which had been suspended in recent months.
“Rocket Mortgage is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Rickie Fowler,” Casey Herbis, senior vice president of brand experience and strategic partnerships, said in a statement to The News. . “His extraordinary path to victory at last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit is a testament to our shared dedication to excellence.”
“We want our fans to experience the Rocket Mortgage Classic as Ricky defends his title at the historic Detroit Golf Club. We’re sure he’ll have another great performance at this world-class golf event.”
Fowler, 35, and Rocket Mortgage reached an agreement earlier this month to revive their partnership. The terms of the contract, including financial aspects and number of years, are unknown.
Fowler has been a spokesperson for Rocket Mortgage since 2015, when it was known as Quicken Loans. As a result, he became the face of Detroit’s first PGA Tour venue, the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which was held for the first time in 2019.
In 2023, Fowler won the tournament in a three-man playoff with a birdie on the final hole of regulation and again on the first hole of the playoff. The victory ended a win drought that had lasted more than four years for Fowler.
Earlier this month, Fowler announced that he would defend his title at the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic, to be held June 27-30, despite his business relationship with Rocket Mortgage being suspended since the beginning of the year. promised.
“Obviously, he’s a game changer,” said Jason Langwell, executive director of Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Fowler’s victory in Detroit, briefly chronicled on Season 2 of Netflix’s “Full Swing,” was his sixth on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2019 Phoenix Open.
At the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, Fowler’s eyes widened when he didn’t wear the logos of longtime sponsors like Rocket Mortgage and Farmers Insurance on his apparel. That led to speculation that he might be considering a move to LIV Golf, but he quickly dismissed such theories by saying his contract was expiring and he didn’t know if he would extend it. I denied it.
He has long been popular for his funny corporate commercials, but his priorities have changed now that he is married and has another child on the way. Farmer’s division is permanent.
Fowler shot a 1-over 72 in the first round of the PGA Championship and was tied for 85th place.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
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