Rickie Fowler‘s 2025 PGA Tour season has not been good. In fact, despite not missing any cuts so far, the 36-year-old has looked far off from the rest of the competing pack in most tournaments. His performance at all the big events has been below par, including a 71-place finish at the PLAYERS, an event he won before. So when he was given an invitation to compete at the PGA Championship, several heads perked up. ‘How can an out-of-form golfer be granted an invitation just like that?’ Many thought so.

Many fans voiced their concern and displeasure, especially considering that more deserving candidates are out there. However, some insiders and commentators feel that Fowler’s shot at the PGA Championship proves he must be among the best.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf channel on their PGA Championship preview show, 1-time Major winner Rich Beem could not stop praising Rickie Fowler. “He’s a winner around here, and I watched him last week on Sunday. Jamie and I promise you this guy did not miss a shot. This guy is dialed in. He got the invite from the PGA of America. I mis-said last on Sunday that he wants to go out and play well, to justify his invitation.” The Sky Sports commentator added in a declaratory fashion.

“There’s no justifying him being invited to the PGA. This guy deserves it.” Beem declared vehemently. Rickie Fowler is the closest you can get to without winning a major. The Oklahoma State University grad is the closest you can get on the PGA Tour without being able to win a major. He has finished solo second or T2 at three of the majors across his career and has finished T3 at the 2014 PGA Championship as well. That was just 5 years after turning professional.

The 2014 season saw him finish in the top 5 at all majors. He took the momentum into the next season, claiming a brilliant victory at the 2015 PLAYERS Championship. He was heavily slated to join the upper echelon of golfers during his career, but somewhere, Rickie Fowler fell off. But Rich Beem thinks the PGA Championship would serve as the ideal setting for him to announce his return as a top golfer.

“He’s got all the talent in the world, and he is coming back. It would not shock me whatsoever to see him have a fantastic week.” The 2002 PGA Championship winner stated. Fowler is coming off a season-best performance at the Truist Championship, where he finished a decent T15 with a score of 8 under par. If he can convert that momentum to a strong showing at Quail Hollow, the golfing world will take notice.

Rickie Fowler misses the 4th Masters in five years

Fowler’s rough patch of form is an enigma. Even more so is his omission from the Masters. He failed to get qualified via any of the ways, including the Official World Golf Rankings, as he is currently 127th. In the last five years, Fowler has also teed off at Augusta once, in 2024, where he finished T30. Before that, from 2014 to 2020, Fowler finished in the top 12 five out of seven times, including two top 5 finishes.

He had the chance to make it by winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open and the Valero Texas Open, but he failed to produce a significant result. In another surprising move, he also opted out of the Valspar Championship, which would then have given him another shot at competing in the Masters. His raw form in recent times is why a lot of haters are justified in questioning Fowler’s exemption to the PGA Championship.

But if Beem, who is an experienced golfer himself, is to be believed, Fowler could make a big splash at Quail Hollow this year. Do you think it is possible for the PGA Tour pro?