Rickie Fowler’s Epic Fail Steals Rooftop Golf Show
Golf Pros Take Shots from a Detroit Rooftop in Wild "Par 3 in the D" Event
Quick Summary: Six PGA Tour stars hit golf balls from a 5th-floor rooftop across a busy Detroit street to a green 117 yards away. It was part of a fun TV exhibition before the Rocket Classic tournament.
What Happened in Detroit?
Imagine standing on a downtown rooftop, looking down at a street 90 feet below, and trying to hit a golf ball onto a tiny fake-grass green across the road. That’s exactly what six professional golfers did on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.
The event was called "Par 3 in the D" — a made-for-TV exhibition held the week of the Rocket Classic tournament at Detroit Golf Club.
Who Played?
Six big names from the PGA Tour teed it up:
| Golfer | Notable Fact |
|---|---|
| Rickie Fowler | Rocket Mortgage spokesperson; won Rocket Classic in 2023 |
| Tony Finau | Won Rocket Classic in 2022 |
| Xander Schauffele | Major champion; current World No. 3 (at time of event) |
| Cameron Young | World No. 3 (at time of event) |
| Keegan Bradley | Major champion |
| Russell Henley | PGA Tour winner |
The Crazy Setup: Rooftop to Street Level
Here’s how the hole worked, step by step:
- Tee Box: 5th-story roof of the Traver | UBS building (1217 Woodward Avenue)
- Target: Custom-built astroturf green on Nick Gilbert Way, right next to the new Hudson’s Detroit building
- Distance: 117 yards (about the length of a football field)
- Elevation Drop: 90 feet straight down — that’s like hitting from a 9-story building!
- Obstacles: Woodward Avenue (a real street), wind, buildings, and not much room for error
Important Point: Protective netting circled the green — and thank goodness, because several shots missed wildly!
How the Competition Worked
- Each player got 3 swings
- First 2 shots = practice (didn’t count)
- 3rd shot = the one that counted for the final standings
- Kids from First Tee Greater Detroit and Midnight Golf (two charities supported by Rocket) putted out to finish the hole
Final Results: Who Got Closest?
| Place | Golfer | Distance from Hole (3rd Shot) |
|---|---|---|
| 1⃣ | Xander Schauffele | 10 feet |
| 2⃣ | Russell Henley | 19 feet, 9 inches |
| 3⃣ | Tony Finau | 22 feet, 5 inches |
| T-4⃣ | Rickie Fowler | Missed green (scored as 36 feet) |
| T-4⃣ | Keegan Bradley | Missed green (scored as 36 feet) |
| T-4⃣ | Cameron Young | Missed green (scored as 36 feet) |
Fun Fact: Cameron Young’s two practice shots nearly went in — they "scared the hole," meaning they were super close!
What the Players Said
"The wind ended up picking up, and it ended up being pretty tricky."
— Tony Finau"There’s not much space down there."
— Rickie Fowler"Definitely probably one of the harder shots we’ve had to try and hit, between some buildings… This was great."
— Rickie Fowler"But a lot of fun to be a part of."
— Tony Finau
Fowler Almost Goes Viral (Again)
Rickie Fowler, who’s been a longtime pitchman for Rocket Mortgage, hit the side of the new Hudson’s building with one of his tee shots.
"I kind of broke the ice, and then there was a couple others… With the wind, the buildings were in play."
No windows were broken — dang it! (as the article jokes).
Why This Mattered: Charity First
The event wasn’t just for show. It highlighted two Detroit youth golf charities:
- First Tee Greater Detroit
- Midnight Golf
Rocket Mortgage has donated over $10 million to nonprofits during its run sponsoring the Rocket Classic. Kids from both programs got to putt on the green in front of the pros and the crowd.
Where Could You Watch?
The exhibition aired live on:
- Golf Channel (cable/satellite)
- WXYZ Channel 7 (local Detroit broadcast)
Summary
- What: "Par 3 in the D" — a rooftop-to-street golf exhibition
- When: July 28, 2026 (Tuesday evening)
- Where: Downtown Detroit, from Traver | UBS rooftop to Nick Gilbert Way
- Who: 6 PGA Tour stars (Fowler, Finau, Schauffele, Young, Bradley, Henley)
- Winner: Xander Schauffele (10 feet from hole)
- Cause: Benefited First Tee Greater Detroit & Midnight Golf
- TV: Aired live on Golf Channel & WXYZ Channel 7
- Vibe: Windy, tricky, hilarious, and totally unique — "a lot of fun to be a part of"
FAQ
Why hit from a rooftop?
It was a made-for-TV exhibition to hype up the Rocket Classic tournament and showcase downtown Detroit in a fun, viral-friendly way.
Was it dangerous?
Safety first! Protective netting surrounded the green, and the street was closed. No windows were broken (though Fowler hit the building!).
What’s "astroturf"?
Fake grass — like what you see on some sports fields. They built a temporary green on the street since real grass wouldn’t survive there.
Who are First Tee and Midnight Golf?
They’re youth golf nonprofits in Detroit that teach kids life skills through golf. Rocket Mortgage has given them $10M+ over the years.
Did this count for official PGA Tour stats?
No. It was an exhibition (for fun/TV), not an official tournament. Scores don’t go on their permanent records.
Article based on reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News
tpaul@detroitnews.com | @tonypaul1984
