Rickie Fowler, ranked No. 110 in the world, has emerged as a contender at the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, held from July 17-20, 2025. The 36-year-old American, known for his love of links golf, is making the most of his 14th appearance at the event, leveraging past success and recent momentum to stay in the hunt.
First Round Recap
Fowler carded a 2-under-par 69 in the opening round on July 17, tying for 10th place in rainy, slow conditions. He offset three bogeys with five birdies, including a strong finish at 2-under over his final four holes, highlighted by an 18-foot birdie putt on the 15th. His conservative approach, avoiding overly aggressive plays, suited the tricky Royal Portrush layout, where wind and false fronts demand precision. Fowler noted, “Bogeys are OK at times. You can get yourself into trouble pretty quickly out there if you try and do too much.”
Second Round Update
On July 18, Fowler remained competitive, sitting at 2-under overall through five holes of the second round, two shots off the lead. He started with a par on the first, followed by a birdie on the par-5 5th after a two-putt, recovering from a bogey to return to level for the day. Posts on X captured the excitement, with fans noting his proximity to the lead and his composure despite interruptions like bagpipe music during shots.
Context and Form
Fowler earned his Open spot via a tie for seventh at the Memorial Tournament in June 2025, his first top-10 finish of the year, beating Brandt Snedeker in a tiebreaker based on his higher world ranking. He skipped the Scottish Open to play the John Deere Classic, where he tied for 18th, showing signs of regaining form after a tough 2024 season with only one top-10. His 2025 highlights include a T15 at the Truist Championship and a strong showing at the Cognizant Classic, where he briefly tied for the lead. Fowler’s history at The Open is strong, with a runner-up in 2014 (Royal Liverpool), a T5 in 2011, and a T6 at Portrush in 2019, where he carded a third-round 66 before a final-round 74. He expressed confidence, saying, “Links golf’s my favorite. Portrush is a great spot.”
Course Fit and Outlook
Royal Portrush’s par-71, 7,381-yard layout rewards ball-strikers, with Fowler’s 302.8-yard driving distance (85th on PGA Tour) and 64.81% greens-in-regulation rate (127th) needing to hold up against its bunkers and runoffs. His 0.205 Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee and recent putting gains (6.143 SG: Putting at Travelers) are assets, though his approach play (-0.022 SG: Approach) remains a weakness. The leaderboard, led by Matt Fitzpatrick and others at 4-under, is tight, with Fowler, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy in pursuit. Fowler’s comfort on links courses and past Portrush success (T6 in 2019) position him well, but consistency over the weekend is critical after missing cuts at the 2025 PGA Championship and failing to qualify for the Masters and U.S. Open.
Sentiment
Fans are buzzing, with X posts highlighting Fowler’s early contention and urging him to capitalize. His fanbase, drawn to his charisma and orange-clad style, remains vocal despite his reduced prominence since his 2015 Players Championship win. Analysts see his experience (13 top-10s in 54 major starts) and love for The Open’s style as factors keeping him competitive, though his 71st-place FedExCup ranking and lack of a 2025 win temper expectations.
How to Follow
- TV: USA Network, NBC (USA); Sky Sports (UK)
- Streaming: Peacock, NBCSports.com, Sky Go
- Live Scores: PGA Tour app, Golfshot, Xscores
Fowler’s chances for a first major hinge on maintaining his steady approach and avoiding the final-round struggles that cost him in 2019.
