After 54 holes of intense play at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, two captivating storylines have emerged. The first is the remarkable number of golfers still in contention at Detroit Golf Club, and the second, and more significant, is Rickie Fowler’s imminent breakthrough after over 50 months without a victory.

Fowler’s outstanding performance on Saturday, shooting a 64, propelled him to a total score of 20 under par for the week. He seized the lead by one stroke ahead of Adam Hadwin, who equaled an 18-hole record with an impressive 63 at Detroit CC on the same day. Fowler’s lead extended to at least two strokes over the rest of the field.

Sunday’s final 18 holes are set to begin early in the morning to avoid potential inclement weather later in the day. Fowler’s long-awaited comeback story only lacks a trophy at the end of the week, and this Sunday presents his best opportunity in a long time. With scores of 67, 65, and 64 in the previous rounds, Fowler has demonstrated exceptional consistency, posting his fifth score of 65 or better in the last three tournaments.

Of particular significance is Fowler’s strong finish on Saturday, as he birdied six of the final eight holes. This remarkable surge has positioned him favorably to secure his first victory since the 2019 Phoenix Open.

Fowler’s recent play has been nothing short of outstanding, and although he has shown signs of a comeback in previous weeks, his return to the winner’s circle will solidify his resurgence. Currently leading the field in approach play and ranking second from tee to green, Fowler’s confidence is palpable. He has repeatedly expressed that he has not felt this good in a PGA Tour event for quite some time. Sunday promises to be an exhilarating day.

Meanwhile, Adam Hadwin, after an unfortunate incident involving a security guard during the Canadian Open, seeks to achieve his first PGA Tour victory since the 2017 Valspar Championship. His spectacular 63 on Saturday was the standout round of the day. However, with several adept ball-strikers close behind him and Hadwin leading the tournament in putting and ranking second around the greens, his ability to maintain his position will be a challenge.

The leaderboard remains tightly packed, with 16 players within six shots of the lead. Given the scoring potential on this course, with scores as low as 62 or 63 attainable, anything can happen on the final day at Detroit Golf Club. Expect an exciting and unpredictable finale.

Unfortunately, Ludvig Aberg, a potential European Ryder Cup team member, experienced a significant setback. After receiving an unexpected confidence boost from European captain Luke Donald, Aberg struggled, posting a 1-over 73, nearly the worst score of the day. His troubles started on the back nine, where he double-bogeyed the par-5 14th hole and followed it up with two more bogeys. This stretch knocked him out of contention and dropped him out of the top 25 on the leaderboard, a disappointing turn of events after playing in the second-to-last pairing just one round earlier.