Rickie Fowler, You Have Our Attention at the Valero Texas Open

There’s a small group of PGA TOUR players that elevate any event simply with their presence.

Rickie Fowler is one of those names.

Sure, he may not be the player we saw in the mid-2010s—I don’t doubt he could get back there someday—but he still puts asses in seats. He’s a fan favorite of all ages out on TOUR, including the little kids that stroll the fairways donned in Fowler’s iconic orange.

But if the patrons at Augusta National plan on matching Fowler’s fluorescent wardrobe next week, he needs to win the Valero Texas Open.

He’s fallen to 110th in the Official World Golf Ranking and has yet to fulfill one of the 20 ways a player can qualify for the Masters. Only one path remains: hoisting hardware Sunday at TPC San Antonio.

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Fowler has played in just one Masters since the November edition back in 2020 and that came last season when he tied for 30th. He’s played his way into contention several times at Augusta, including a stretch of five top-12 finishes in a six-year stretch from 2014-2019.

You can never count him out amongst the Georgia Pines—he just needs to get there first.

Rickie Fowler. Masters 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

As for his history at the Valero, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. He’s played in it five times and has made the weekend thrice. Obviously don’t love the 60 percent success rate, but when he’s made the cut he’s tied for 17th twice (2019, 2021) and for 10th in 2023.

Despite just one top-20 finish so far this season—T-18 at the Cognizant Classic—Fowler is six-for-seven in the made cuts department. The only time he didn’t play over the weekend was when he withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open after the first round. So, does that really count as an MC?

With what’s on the line, I expect Fowler to earn Saturday and Sunday tee times. But then the fun really starts.

His back is against the wall. He has 72 holes to earn the privilege of driving down Magnolia Lane.

We can’t wait to see if he rises to the occasion.