The Colonial has tested Rickie Fowler‘s patience a couple of times this year. The Californian, looking solid for his first win, found himself with yet another troubling shot on Friday. But as he made the bunker shot on 18th where, “The ball was a foot below my feet,” as the golfer puts it, he found himself within contention with a T-4 finish to the second round and a possible reach for the win. Time and again, we have seen Fowler give us sparks of exemplary plays, like the T15th finish at the Truist Championship earlier this month. But the Charles Schwab Challenge is turning out to be a much better form of Rickie.

After posting an even-par 70 in the opening round, where too he had to debate over a relief with two game officials, the World No. 128th had, “a solid day on a Friday.” Fowler started on the back nine and made birdie holes 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 18 to turn the corner in 29 strokes, shooting up the scoreboard. In fact, he matched his career-best nine-hole score record, which is set four times so far, the most recent one coming at Truist in round 1. He now stands tied at the seventh spot, 5 par behind the leader Ben Griffin and Matti Schmid.

Interestingly, the 36-year-old found 11 of 14 fairways and after wrapping up his round, ranked fifth in strokes gained on approach (2.362) and sixth in strokes gained from putting (2.110) in the second round. So Friday’s 64 was certainly an improvement. If he manages to shoot up his current FedEx standing from 99th to under 70 by the end of 2025, he could make his way to the FedEx Cup Playoffs. And with Fowler feeling like he hasn’t “been far off,” and being in a position to win it all at Texas, he has an analysis of his own performance in his post round presser. 

A reporter asked the golfer, “John talked about the 29s. You’ve had these flashes. Do you feel like that stretch of prolonged really good play is right around the corner?” Giving an honest opinion of his work on the green, Fowler confessed, “Yeah. I haven’t been far off. You know, it’s sometimes hard to stay patient when you know it’s as close as it is and you’re not really getting anything out of it. Not that you can shoot 29 every nine holes, but having maybe a couple of those a tournament is definitely nice.

“You kind of have to just plod your way around and hit quality shots and, like I said, stay patient, wait for those stretches where everything kind of does happen at the right time. Whether it’s low 30s to 29, you take those when you get them.”

Specifically, Fowler was hinting at the fifth, his, “probably one of my least favorite tee shots on tour” where he made his only bogey for the day where he before added another par-breaker on the challenging 3rd. But his patience wasn’t just at risk on Friday. His opening round also was something on the same lines and even included some drama with the officials.

Fowler’s defiant stand: A clash with officials at Colonial

In the opening round, Fowler faced a difficult position on the 14th hole, which put his fortitude to the test even further. He asked the officials for assistance when his tee shot came within an inch of a barbed-wire-topped border barrier. But his plea for a relief was turned down as the officials called the play “unreasonable.” Keeping his cool, Fowler joked, “So if I hit and pull it off, do I get like a shot off?” 

The 14th hole event became a topic of discussion, both in relation to the decision and Fowler’s reaction. Fowler was left with few choices and a scary shot. But bringing out the classic Rickie, he made the shot anyway.

As the Charles Schwab Challenge goes on, Fowler stands a chance to be in contention not just for the win but also the FedEx playoffs. To see if Fowler can keep up his momentum and earn a long-awaited victory, teammates and fans will surely be closely watching.