Rickie Fowler is a man out of form right now, so a good result at the John Deere Classic would be very welcome.
Fowler has won just once since his victory at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2019 – at the Rocket Classic in 2023.
The 36-year-old is an absolute shadow of his former self right now, but he is still working hard to rediscover his best form.
With the PGA Tour rolling into Silvis, Illinois, this week for the John Deere Classic, Fowler has a real chance to start building some much-needed momentum.
With the American’s drop-off in form, it has been mooted that he could be part of Keegan Bradley‘s backroom staff at Bethpage Black in September.
On Tuesday, Fowler actually said he would be happy to help at the Ryder Cup if asked.
But his first order of business will be to find some form ahead of a vitally important part of the season.
Rickie Fowler says there’s one thing about the PGA Tour that he doesn’t like
Fowler has been handed a couple of sponsor’s invites for the Signature Events on the PGA Tour this season.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t done anything to warrant those invites.
Due to his lowly world ranking, the six-time PGA Tour winner has been forced to play so-called less prestigious events this season.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Fowler addressed the press at TPC Deere Run on Tuesday, and he was asked what he feels about the changes the PGA Tour are set to make, with elevated fields becoming even harder to get into, and less full-time cards being handed out.
He said: “I haven’t really looked at that too much just because I’m not sure where I’ll exactly be at. Love to have some solid weeks here and be inside the top 50 and go play TOUR championship. You know, top 30 be even better.
“So some unknowns at this point, but I think going to 100 I think is the step in the right direction. We all want PGA TOUR to be the most elite tour there is out here, the best product.
“Not saying that just the 100 is how we get there, but with guys getting, you know, maybe fewer and fewer starts towards the back end of what cards are available, guys earning cards, whether it’s Q-School, through Korn Ferry, I feel like their first year is almost like is tryout.
“You get a handful of starts and you better play good when you do; versus when you earn a card to feel like you actually have one. I think like that may be potentially where the TOUR might be heading. Ultimately be less cards; possibly less events.
“To me, I think I mentioned it last week, but to me, I believe as far as the PGA TOUR and the product and being that elite, I don’t personally like being in secondary or opposite field events. That’s just me personally. I’m not saying they should or shouldn’t be around.
“For what I believe the PGA TOUR is, that’s kind of where I’m at.“
Rickie Fowler needs to go back to basics
Fowler needs to remember what made him such a great player to begin with.
The 36-year-old has gone through multiple swing changes in the pursuit of the next level.
What he has to realise now though is that what he had was good enough to compete with the very best players in the world.
His swing may not have been textbook, and it’s fair to suggest that it is actually better to look at now.
However, he is nowhere near as good as he once was. So why not go back to his old swing?
Fowler has the talent needed to win big events, we all know that. However, it might just be a case of taking a couple of steps back before he can genuinely make some real progress.