Rickie Fowler won The Players Championship, then he was meant to win it all. So what went wrong?

Rickie Fowler is still chasing his first major victory

It’s been 10 years since Rickie Fowler silenced his critics and delivered a landmark win at TPC Sawgrass. But why did a career that looked set for the greatest heights instead end up in the dumps, and what’s next for a man who was meant to have won multiple majors by now?

A decade ago, Rickie Fowler stood atop the golfing world. On Sunday May 10, 2015, he pulled off one of the most remarkable finishes in Players Championship history, cementing his place as one of golf’s brightest young stars.

His final-round heroics at TPC Sawgrass, where he played the last six holes in a blistering six-under-par, forced a three-hole aggregate playoff against Sergio García and Kevin Kisner. Then, in front of a raucous crowd, Fowler delivered the killer blow – sticking his tee shot at the iconic 17th island green to just over five feet and rolling in the birdie putt for the biggest win of his career.

“That was the most clutch finish I’ve ever seen,” said Johnny Miller in the NBC broadcast booth. “He took a poll that called him overrated and shoved it right back in their faces.”

The triumph was not just impressive – it felt like a defining moment. At 26, Fowler had already gained a reputation for style and flair, with countless fans decked head-to-toe in his signature orange, but this was substance. He had silenced his doubters, including an anonymous players’ poll that labeled him as one of the most overrated golfers on tour. Fowler didn’t just win that week – he made a statement.

“I always believed in myself,” Fowler said after lifting the trophy. “This one just proves it to everyone else.”

It felt like the beginning of an era. Having finished T5, T2, T2, and T5 in the 2014 majors, Fowler’s 2015 Players win seemed like it would open the floodgates. He was set to win majors, amass more PGA Tour wins, and challenge the likes of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas for golfing supremacy.

But, as we look back on the 10th anniversary of what remains his biggest win to date, it’s clear that prophecy never quite came to fruition.

A career of near misses and unfulfilled potential

Fowler continued to play well in the years immediately following his Players victory. Later in 2015, he won the Deutsche Bank Championship in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. He finished the year ranked fourth in the world, his highest career position.

The following season, he added another win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, further solidifying his place among the game’s elite. However, despite consistently being in the mix, the biggest prizes eluded him.

“Rickie is one of the best players out here, and I have no doubt he’ll get his major,” said McIlroy in 2018. “It’s not a question of if, just when.”

By the end of 2019, Fowler had amassed nine top-10 finishes in majors, including a runner-up finish at the 2018 Masters, where he made a late Sunday charge but ultimately fell one shot short of Patrick Reed.

“I thought that was the week,” said Butch Harmon, Fowler’s former coach. “He was playing some of the best golf of his life, but sometimes the breaks don’t go your way.”

But the major breakthrough never came. His 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open victory was his fifth PGA Tour title, but a winning drought lasting more than four years followed. During that time, Fowler’s form deteriorated so much that he tumbled outside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time in over a decade and almost lost his PGA Tour card.

The downfall: Swing changes, confidence issues, and the new wave

While Fowler’s early years were defined by consistency and excitement, his game started to unravel in the late 2010s. Swing changes intended to gain more control and eliminate the inconsistencies that had cost him in major moments failed to deliver and his game suffered.

“I was searching for something that would make me better long-term,” Fowler later admitted. “But instead, I lost what made me successful in the first place.”

Fowler’s putting – once a strength – became erratic. His iron play lost its sharpness. And suddenly, the player who once thrived under pressure struggled to make cuts, let alone contend.

“Rickie tried to get better, but sometimes you have to be careful with that,” said analyst Brandel Chamblee. “He had one of the best short games in the world, and he lost some of that feel trying to perfect things.”

Between 2020 and 2022, Fowler’s decline was stark. He:

• fell outside the top 150 in Strokes Gained: Approach (once a strength of his game);
• dropped to 185th in Strokes Gained: Putting;
• missed out on the Masters, US Open, and The Open for the first time in over a decade;
• lost automatic entry to many big PGA Tour events and had to rely on sponsor exemptions.

While Fowler was going backwards, a new generation of stars, including Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, and Scottie Scheffler, emerged and quickly took over the spotlight. Fowler, who had once been the face of golf’s youth movement alongside Spieth and McIlroy, now found himself fighting just to stay relevant. The orange-clad army was still there, but their numbers were definitely reduced.

“You just don’t see many guys who get as low as Rickie did and make it back to the top,” said Paul Azinger in 2022. “It’s brutal out here. The game moves on.”

McIlroy’s outlook was more positive. “The game doesn’t wait for anyone,” he said when asked about Fowler’s struggles. “But if there’s one guy who has the talent and determination to come back, it’s Rickie.”

The road to redemption?

Despite his struggles, Fowler never lost faith. In 2023, after reuniting with his old swing coach Butch Harmon, he showed signs of resurgence.

Instead of overhauling mechanics, Fowler returned to his natural rhythm and feel.

His work began to pay off with several strong performances, including a T5 finish at the 2023 US Open, where he led for much of the tournament before fading on Sunday. “I know my best golf is still ahead of me,” he said following the tournament.

Then, in July 2023, he finally broke his winless drought with an emotional victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, securing his first title in more than four years.

“I never stopped believing,” Fowler said after the win. “There were definitely some dark times, but I knew if I kept working, I’d get back here.”

The win wasn’t a major, nor was it The Players, but it meant everything. It was proof that he still had what it took to win at the highest level. His climb back into the top 50 in the world rankings was another positive step, but the question remains – will we ever see Fowler lifting a major trophy?

Fowler’s legacy and back to the future

Reflecting on Fowler’s career 10 years after his Players Championship win, it’s a tale of promise, immense popularity, and unfulfilled expectations.

There’s no doubt he has been one of the most marketable and beloved golfers of his era. His laid-back California attitude, eye-catching outfits, and interactions with fans have made him a global icon. He has inspired countless young golfers and left a lasting impact on the sport.

“Rickie is one of those guys who transcends golf,” said Tiger Woods. “He’s been great for the game.”

He’s won six PGA Tour events and two on the European (now DP World) Tour and banked more than $50 million in on-course earnings. He’s played in five Ryder Cups (although only won once) and represented his nation in the Olympics.

But the harsh reality is that the majors define the greats. And for all his talent, Fowler, now 36, has yet to etch his name on one of golf’s biggest trophies.

Could he still do it? Absolutely. Golf is an unpredictable game, and players like Phil Mickelson and Sergio García proved that major glory can come later in a career. Fowler still has time, and if his recent resurgence is anything to go by, he may yet have a few more special moments left in the tank.

“You never count out someone with that kind of talent,” said Woods. “It’s all about confidence. If he finds that again, he can win anywhere.”

But Garcia’s major breakthrough at the age of 37 and Mickelson’s PGA Championship win at 50 are the exception, not the rule. In today’s game – where young stars emerge faster, hit it farther, and show less fear – time is not on Fowler’s side.

Whatever happens next, as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Rickie Fowler’s greatest triumph, there’s no escaping the feeling that his career didn’t quite go as expected. The 2015 Players Championship was supposed to be the first of many big wins. Instead, it remains the pinnacle of a career that, while still impressive, leaves us wondering what might have been.

Will his golf career be remembered as one of style, swagger, and near-misses? Or will he find a way to rewrite his story?

“I still believe I have a major in me,” Fowler said in 2023. “I know I can get there.”

For his sake, and for the legions of fans who have stood by him in bright orange Puma, let’s hope he’s right.

• See what’s in Rickie Fowler’s golf bag