Fowler wins Rocket Mortgage Classic in playoff over Morikawa, Canada's Hadwin

Rickie Fowler tilted his head back, exhaled and smiled.

He finally did it, holding on for a win after so many have slipped away.

Refusing to crumble and collapse again, Fowler made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and outlasted fellow American Collin Morikawa and Canada's Adam Hadwin on Sunday, two weeks after squandering a chance at the U.S. Open.

"It's just nice to have this one out of the way," Fowler said after winning for the first time in four years. "I'm obviously going to soak this one in and celebrate a bit.

"Yeah, it's just been a long road."

Fowler ended a career-long, 96-start championship drought after missing out on two chances to win in June, closing with a 75 at the U.S. Open to tie for fifth and with a 69 last week at the Travelers Championship to drop into a tie for 13th.

WATCH | Canada's Hadwin falls in playoff at Rocket Mortgage Classic:

Followed all day by a sea of orange at Detroit Golf Club, Fowler was knocked down on the leaderboard by a near record-tying-round from Morikawa. He responded on his 72nd hole of the tournament with an approach from 145 feet that left him with a 3-foot birdie putt to pull into a three-way tie with Morikawa and Hadwin at 24 under.

Fowler hit an errant tee shot way right in the playoff and after a drop, his approach from 184 landed 12 feet from the cup. Morikawa was inches long on his approach and instead of having the ball spin back to the hole, it bounced into the rough.

Hadwin missed a 22-foot putt and Morikawa his chip, opening the door for Fowler to close out the tournament before thunderstorms rolled over Detroit.

"I knew it was just a matter of time with how I've been playing," said Fowler, who has eight top-10