Rickie Fowler roared back to form at the Truist Championship in round one and he’s hit back at suggestions he has been lucky to get an invite to next week’s PGA Championship.
Fowler has just one win in six years on the PGA Tour and has got nowhere near the form which saw him emerge as a serious contender around a decade ago.
Fowler is currently down in 125th in the OWGR, the lowest spot of his career since emerging into the big time.
Nevertheless, he has found himself invited to the PGA Championship next week. It’s a move which has caused a bit of a stir, with many believing his form and ranking doesn’t warrant such an invite.
However, for Fowler, it means little and he has referenced his 2015 win at The Players as an example.
Rickie Fowler responds to suggestions he shouldn’t be in the PGA Championship
Fowler found himself in the clubhouse at seven under par after round one at The Truist Championship in what was a welcome return to form for him.
However, while he impressed, focus turned to next week in his post-round press conference as he was asked about those criticising his selection for Quail Hollow.
Fowler, though, was quick to reference his 2015 win at Sawgrass.
“The negative stuff, I would say, kind of helps me in a way because it fuels me to kind of go out and prove people wrong. I feel like there was something prior to 2015 Players saying I was the most overrated player, and that worked out all right that week,” Fowler commented.
Adding further comment on where he sees his game and body being right now, Fowler spoke of how pleased he is with his progression.
“I was a bit tighter. My body’s feeling better, kind of allowing me to go play golf. We made a minor adjustment yesterday, put my irons a degree up. I felt like I was making good swings and zeroing things out, and the ball was just hanging a little right from what I wanted to see. So it was good to kind of see things tighten up with irons today,” he continued.
“Yeah, I’ve been happy with where my game’s been at for quite a while. I just haven’t really seen the product of the work I’m putting in or what I feel like I can produce. This was a little better day.”
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy admits he made two big mistakes on day one at the Truist Championship
Why Rickie Fowler was called overrated before his Players win in 2015
It goes without saying that Rickie Fowler needs to get a win on the PGA Tour soon or he might get to the point where he even loses his card.
He is more than capable, though, and he showed in 2015 that when his back’s against the wall he can deliver.
Fowler has not delivered since being called overrated in a poll by Sports Illustrated a decade ago but he did, at the time, laugh it off.
“I laughed at the poll. But if there’s any question, anything you need to know, it’s right here,” Fowler said at the time.
Still, while the confidence and ability is there with Fowler, the bottom line is he hasn’t got the wins needed and eventually, with such strong fields nowadays, that will catch up with him.
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