RBC Heritage: The Never-Ending Struggles Of Rickie Fowler
By Sean McCann
Rickie Fowler, once known as one of the PGA Tour’s brightest stars, continues to see his performance decline at this week’s RBC Heritage. After shooting a 76-74, failing to make the cut, this will now be Fowler’s 6th missed cut in 12 starts this season. So, the big question remains, what happened to the 33-year-old American?
Fowler entered the PGA Tour in 2010, showing immediate success and becoming a fan favorite with his charismatic personality and electric outfits. The American’s first victory came in 2012 at the Wells Fargo Championship, but his elite play peaked in 2015 at the young age of 26.
Fowler won 2 tournaments in 2015, including the PLAYERS Championship, he went on to finish 5th in FedEx Standings and 5th in World Rankings. Alongside young stars like Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Rory McIlroy, it seemed like this group would be the future of golf for years to come. However, this proved to be the peak of Fowler’s career thus far.
Can Rickie Fowler get back amongst the game’s elite?
Since the 2015 season, Fowler has only won 2 tournaments, with the latest coming at the 2019 Waste Management Open. This season, the American has only 1 top-25 finish in the 6 tournaments that he managed to make the weekend. He has slipped to 138th in the World Ranking and 119th in the FedEx Cup standings, just narrowly keeping his place in the FedEx Cup Playoff picture for now. While Fowler’s power off the tee remains the strong point in his game (13th in Driving Distance), he continues to struggle with his Driving Accuracy (156th on Tour) and Greens in Regulation (146th on Tour). It’s evident that consistency is hurting the young American and if this continues, making the FedEx Cup Playoffs doesn’t look feasible.
Rickie Fowler failed to qualify for this year’s Masters tournament for the first time in 10 years, marking the end of an impressive stretch, but it is a perfect reflection of the struggles that he has endured over the past couple of years.
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I think I speak for many when I say that the Tour is better when Rickie Fowler is competing at a high level each weekend, as his heavy drives and flashy outfits get most fans electrified and rooting for the American. Is Fowler’s performance continuing to decline? Yes. Does that mark the end of Fowler’s elite status? No. Let’s hope he’s able to rejuvenate his career and find a permanent place amongst the World’s best once again.