Rickie Fowler Fires 7-Under 63 at Truist Championship

Rickie Fowler, once a top PGA Tour golfer, has faced criticism for receiving a sponsor exemption to play in the 2025 PGA Championship despite his current World No. 125 ranking and lack of recent wins. However, Fowler responded to doubters with a strong performance at the Truist Championship, shooting a 7-under 63 in the first round, which tied him for third place and showed he can still compete at a high level. He expressed that the negative comments motivate him to prove critics wrong, referencing a similar situation before his 2015 Players Championship victory. Though Fowler has struggled to crack the top 10 in recent tournaments and has relied on invitations to major events, his persistence and confidence in his game remain intact. His presence in upcoming major tournaments continues to draw mixed reactions from fans and analysts, but Fowler embraces the challenge and uses the criticism as fuel for his performance. The Truist Championship serves as a key tune-up event before the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, where Fowler aims to further demonstrate his competitiveness.