Rickie Fowler is heading back to major championship golf—but not without raising a few eyebrows. The 35-year-old, once a staple on Sunday leaderboards, will tee it up at the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow despite a slide down the world rankings and a spring filled with missed cuts and mounting doubts. Currently sitting at No. 125 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Fowler was granted a special exemption by the PGA of America—his second such lifeline in the last four years.

Golf writer Paul Hodowanic reported on X: “Rickie Fowler, No. 125 in the OWGR, has received an invitation to play the PGA Championship. Fowler also got an invitation in 2022 when he was 146th in the world. Fowler has played in every PGA Championship since 2010.” It’s a continuation of the governing body’s quiet commitment to legacy players—the ones who’ve helped define the event even when their games no longer demand inclusion. Fowler’s return to the PGA comes just weeks after a painful omission from the 2025 Masters field, his fourth snub in five years—and perhaps his most deflating yet. Now, with another major lifeline in hand, the question lingers: can Rickie make it count this time?

Once a top-five mainstay in the rankings, Fowler’s form has continued to slide in 2025, despite a feel-good victory at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic that briefly hinted at a resurgence. This season, the 35-year-old has managed just two top-25 finishes—a T21 at The American Express and a T18 at the Cognizant Classic—but they’ve been overshadowed by a string of underwhelming results. He finished T52 at the Houston Open, T30 at the Valero Texas Open, and 68th at the RBC Heritage. He also placed 71st at The Players Championship with a total score of +12 and withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open due to illness.

Even as his competitive edge dulls, Fowler remains a marquee name—the kind of player sponsors, networks, and fans still gravitate toward. His 2025 PGA Championship invite reflects that commercial reality, as well as the respect he commands within the game. Still, questions remain. At what point does a popular veteran become a symbolic entry rather than a serious contender? With Quail Hollow looming and Fowler outside the top 120 in FedExCup points, this major appearance could be as much about pride as performance.

He’ll have a chance to prove the doubters wrong. The venue suits him — he finished T5 at the 2017 PGA Championship there. And with the Travelers Championship and other familiar stops ahead, Fowler has opportunities to rewrite the story of his season. Fowler won’t be the only one arriving at Quail Hollow with something to prove—he’s part of a broader wave of invitees whose presence adds intrigue, questions, and potential fireworks to golf’s second major of the year.

Other invitees and who to watch at the PGA Championship 2025

The 2025 PGA Championship field is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. With 156 players teeing it up at Quail Hollow, the tournament will feature a compelling mix of proven major winners, rising stars, international standouts, and special invitees who bring storylines of their own. Among the more notable additions are players like Rickie Fowler, Elvis Smylie, and Tom McKibbin– all extended invitations despite sitting outside the automatic qualification thresholds. Dustin Johnson, a two-time runner-up at the PGA, was also granted a spot, keeping his major presence intact despite shifting to LIV Golf.

The PGA of America also honors its tradition of including 20 club professionals who earned their way in through the PGA Professional Championship—a nod to the organization’s roots. Meanwhile, players who performed well at the 2024 PGA Championship, such as Robert MacIntyre and Taylor Moore, are back for another shot. With 14 past PGA champions expected and multiple major winners throughout the field, this year’s championship offers a deep and unpredictable lineup. Every tee time will feel like a featured group, and every round could bring a surprise contender to the surface.