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Fowler takes in his first victory since 2019, via GOLF.com
Even through some chaotic streaming schedules, golf fans around the country flocked to their respective apps to see Rickie Fowler win his first Tour event since 2019. With a streak of impressive performances since the US Open, it’s clear that an event win was in Fowler’s immediate future. While it wasn’t a Major title, I believe I can speak for all Tour fans when I say that Fowler’s win was a perfect way to cap off a great weekend of golf.
Rickie Fowler
One of the best young stars of the early 2010s, Fowler has struggled in recent years, missing more than 30 cuts in events throughout the tour. If you only know Fowler from Full Swing on Netflix, you may not realize that this recent surge is more of a return to form than a breakout moment in his career. Perhaps it was the orange-striped Puma polo that boosted Fowler’s performance, evoking his iconic full-orange getup that he’s been known for throughout his career.
Even in a sport as competitive as golf, Fowler’s fellow Tour golfers were quick to celebrate his resurgence, including Justin Thomas:
Rickie on set at ESPN, per ESPN Front Row
John Deere Classic
This weekend’s event is certainly an interesting one. Aside from a field full of Top 50 players, Deere Run is a course perfect for some picturesque golfing. While now would be a great time for some Zim’s Picks, I can honestly say that this field is way too hard to figure out. It would be like picking the best player on the Oakland A’s; no one is necessarily that great. The top-ranked OWGR player is Cameron Young (19th), so he’s not a bad pick to win. However, with this tournament’s history of giving emerging stars the spotlight, I wouldn’t be able to make a confident pick on Young just for being the top dog.