DUBLIN, Ohio – Rickie Fowler earned a place in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush following a strong showing at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. By finishing as the highest Memorial player not already exempt, Fowler qualified via the Open Qualifying Series, achieving a crucial milestone in his quest for more major championship opportunities.

Fowler and Brandt Snedeker ended the Memorial Tournament tied for seventh place at 1-under-par. Fowler secured the final Open spot by prevailing in a tiebreaker based on the Official World Golf Ranking, where Fowler held a significant advantage (No. 124) over Snedeker (No. 430). The final stretch at Muirfield Village proved decisive in this qualification battle.

Key moments from the final round and decisive last hole

The outcome hinged on the 72nd hole at Muirfield Village. After a costly bogey on the 17th hole, Fowler faced a challenging situation at the 18th, finding himself in the rough off the green on the par-4. He needed to make a precise up-and-down to match Snedeker’s total score of 287 (1 under). Demonstrating composure, Fowler executed a skillful pitch shot to within two feet of the hole and confidently sank the par putt, locking in his place at Royal Portrush for his 14th Open Championship appearance.

Although Fowler was aware Snedeker had posted an impressive final round of 7-under 65, he was initially unsure about the specifics of the Open qualification scenario. Shortly after completing his round, Fowler was warmly greeted by his wife Allison and daughters Maya and Nellie, who joined him for a commemorative photo featuring The Open Championship flag.

Fowler reflects on qualifying for Portrush and season ambitions

Reflecting on his week, Fowler remarked on the importance of securing his spot at Royal Portrush and its significance for his schedule.

“This week still could have been a lot better, but definite positive is going over to Portrush. That’s one I’ve wanted on the schedule. I had a great time when we were there the last (time) and had a decent showing as well,”

he said.

Beyond The Open, all players ranked in the top 60 of the Official World Golf Ranking following the Memorial have qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open at Oakmont in two weeks. Fowler’s current standing leaves him outside that group, but he remains motivated to gain entry through Monday’s intense 36-hole qualifier at Columbus, Ohio, widely known as Golf’s Longest Day.

Fowler’s quest for major championship success continues

At 36 years old, Fowler is determined to continue competing for major titles. Although he did not qualify for this year’s Masters and missed the cut at last month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow with scores of 73-73, his record shows several close calls. Fowler has not yet won a major but has finished in the top five in all four majors during his standout 2014 season and holds 13 top-10 finishes in 54 major starts.

Known for his popularity and distinctive style on the PGA TOUR for nearly two decades, Fowler is eager to add a major championship to his achievements. His solid performance at the Memorial and qualified entry at Royal Portrush represent renewed hope for a breakthrough.

After Sunday’s success, he can look forward to returning to Portrush, where he finished sixth in the 2019 Open. Calling his week at the Memorial a success, Fowler stated with enthusiasm,

“Portrush is a great spot. So excited for that opportunity.”

Further underlining his passion for the game, Fowler added, Links golf’s my favorite, signaling his excitement for competing on the challenging course in Northern Ireland.