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Rickie Fowler on his return to form after an impressive Round 2
Rickie Fowler entered the Truist Championship looking to continue the steady progress he has shown throughout the 2026 PGA Tour season. After opening the week with a 3-over-par 74 at Quail Hollow, Fowler responded Friday with one of the best rounds of the tournament, shooting an 8-under 63 to move into the top 10 heading into the weekend.
The strong second round came after Fowler battled illness earlier in the week. Fowler revealed Friday that he dealt with a sinus infection and a 102-degree fever before the opening round, which affected his performance Thursday.
“There were times I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to hit the hole from a few feet,” Fowler said Friday. “So it was nice to be back in a better spot physically today.”
The performance arrives at an important time for Fowler ahead of next week’s PGA Championship. Fowler is still searching for his first PGA Tour victory since the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic, but his recent form has continued trending upward after consecutive top-10 finishes at Signature Events earlier this season.
GettyRickie Fowler
Fowler said his improved physical condition has helped him continue building confidence in both his game and overall form.
“Yeah, there’s been a lot of good stuff,” Fowler said after his second-round 63. “Obviously going back looking at last year and last summer and kind of building off of that, to be in a spot where the body feels better than it did last year.”
Fowler added that his swing and overall game have continued to progress alongside his health.
“And also knowing that, yeah, in a good spot with the game, body’s in a better spot than it was last year, and just kind of continuing to build off of that,” Fowler said. “Seeing plenty of good things and finally starting to build more momentum and more confidence.”
Rickie Fowler opened the Truist Championship with a 3 over par 74, but he followed that up with an impressive 8 under par 63 yesterday to climb inside the top 10.
After the round, he was asked if he felt like he was “getting close” to his best:
“Yeah, there’s been a lot of good
The second round at Quail Hollow showed that momentum clearly.
After struggling to hit fairways during Thursday’s opening round, Fowler improved dramatically on Friday. He missed only three fairways during the round and ranked near the top of the field in both Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green and Strokes Gained: Putting.
Fowler opened the round with an early birdie and stayed aggressive throughout the front nine. He carded a 31 before continuing the momentum after the turn with three straight birdies to open the back nine.
A bogey on the 13th hole briefly slowed the round, but Fowler responded immediately with another birdie and closed strongly over the final stretch.
His 63 was the lowest round of the day by four shots and moved him to 5-under for the tournament, four shots behind leader Sungjae Im entering the weekend.
The performance also continued Fowler’s stretch of consistent golf. He has now posted six top-25 finishes in 10 starts this season and sits 30th in the FedExCup standings.
GettyRickie Fowler
Fowler’s recent results have helped him regain stability after an inconsistent stretch over the last two seasons.
This marks the first time Fowler has recorded consecutive top-10 finishes since the opening two events of the FedExCup Playoffs last year. That late-season run helped Fowler qualify for this season’s Signature Events.
The PGA Tour veteran has also shown improved consistency throughout 2026. Fowler has made eight cuts in 10 starts while recording top-10 finishes at the RBC Heritage, Cadillac Championship, and Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Quail Hollow also remains one of Fowler’s stronger venues on the PGA Tour schedule.
The course hosted Fowler’s first PGA Tour victory in 2012, and he has added several strong finishes there since, including a top-five finish at the 2017 PGA Championship.
The timing of Fowler’s improved play is important, as the PGA Championship begins next week. Fowler narrowly missed qualifying for the Masters earlier this spring, making the second major championship of the season another important opportunity.
Currently ranked No. 52 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Fowler continues working toward returning to consistent contention on the PGA Tour.
Friday’s round at the Truist Championship provided another sign that Fowler’s game and health are both moving in the right direction, entering one of the biggest stretches of the season.
Debayan Biswas is a sports writer covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He focuses on breaking news, trades, and player stories. His work has been featured by Athlon Sports and Pro Football and Sports Network, with republication across platforms including Yahoo Sports and Yardbarker. More about Debayan Biswas
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