Rickie Fowler admitted he was left “bummed” after a difficult week at the Truist Championship, where illness played a significant role in limiting his performance at Quail Hollow.
When Fowler stepped up to a 200-yard approach on one of Quail Hollow Club’s closing holes, there was a brief sense of déjà vu at the venue where he claimed his first PGA Tour title 14 years ago in a playoff over Rory McIlroy.
Back in contention for a rare return victory, Fowler came up short in the decisive moments. He missed a key 5-foot putt on the 16th before misreading the wind on the final hole, leaving his 7-iron well short of the back pin position and effectively ending his challenge. Meanwhile, Kristoffer Reitan career earnings can’t compare to family’s fortune even after Truist win.
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Fowler closed with a five-under 65 on Sunday, despite a late bogey, to finish two strokes behind champion Kristoffer Reitan at 13-under-par 271 (74-63-69-65) at Quail Hollow.
The American’s strong finish came after battling a sinus infection and fever during the opening round, but he recovered to post one of the standout performances of the week. Fowler’s 16-under total across the final three rounds (197) was the best in the field by six shots, with Reitan’s winning total coming in at 10-under for the same stretch.
“A lot of really good stuff this week, especially with being a little under the weather and kind of starting a little behind,” Fowler said. The result marked a third straight top-10 finish for Fowler, a run of form that has lifted him to 17th in the FedExCup standings as he continues to build momentum late in the PGA Tour season.
Inspired by his friend Ken Roczen winning his first Supercross Championship on Saturday—nearly a decade after a career-threatening arm injury—Fowler carried momentum into his own week on the PGA Tour, where he was chasing a seventh career victory and his first since the 2023 Rocket Classic.
Rickie Fowler is continuing to build momentum in the PGA Tour season -Credit:Getty
Although Fowler ultimately finished runner-up, it marked his best result since the 2022 Baycurrent Classic and reinforced his return to consistent contention.
“I was thinking about (Roczen) a bunch there because coming from behind and just dealing with the grind of it,” Fowler said. “Luckily for us, if we miss a shot we don’t have to worry about it too much. Those boys are dealing with injuries and all kinds of stuff. So thinking about all my buddies that ride and definitely makes it a lot calmer out there on the golf course for me.”
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Fowler said the only real sting from his missed chances at Quail Hollow was emotional, admitting he was “bummed” after coming up just short in contention. The American struck a 6-iron to close range at the 16th and repeated the club successfully at the next hole, but a key decision at the final green proved costly.
Fowler and caddie Ricky Romano opted for a 7-iron over a 6-iron due to perceived helping wind, but the shot came up short and left. He then missed a 10-foot par putt to finish the hole. “It’s obviously pretty easy to go back,” Fowler said.