Rickie Fowler at John Deere Classic headlines a pivotal week on the PGA Tour as fan favorites Rickie Fowler and Max Homa aim to reverse recent slumps and earn coveted playoff spots. With the season nearing its close, both Fowler and Homa must deliver strong performances at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, starting Thursday to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Pressure Mounts for Fowler and Homa at TPC Deere Run
Despite their immense popularity among PGA Tour fans, Rickie Fowler and Max Homa have struggled recently to match their reputation with results on the course. For Fowler, this marks his first return to the John Deere Classic since 2010, and he considered the event as an alternative to the upcoming Genesis Scottish Open. Fowler explained that balancing his schedule and skipping the Scottish Open in favor of three consecutive tournaments felt like a better fit at this stage of the season. After falling short last week at the Rocket Classic, Fowler now sits at 72nd in FedEx Cup points, just outside the top 70 who advance to the playoffs.
Fowler acknowledged the importance of capitalizing on every start from here onward to secure a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs. His mindset remains positive as the season reaches this crucial stretch.
“Feel like (I’m) trending at the right time, taking last week away,”
Fowler said.
“Yeah, just got to keep it simple: Go out and have fun and play golf.”
—Rickie Fowler, PGA Tour Player
Homa Seeks Guidance as Playoff Window Narrows
The challenge is even greater for Max Homa, who achieved a career-high ranking of No. 5 in the world just two years ago after capturing six tournament victories between 2019 and 2023. This season, Homa’s best finish is a 12th place at the Masters, and multiple missed cuts have left him languishing in 122nd place in the FedEx Cup standings. With time running out, Homa is looking to his fellow players for support and advice, having last participated in the John Deere Classic in 2017.
Homa described leaning on established stars as he works through his struggles.
“Played nine holes with Jason Day (on Tuesday). We talked about a lot of things,”
Homa shared.
“He’s always a breath of fresh air out here. He’s a wealth of knowledge. Justin Thomas has been like the greatest friend you could ever ask for through all of this. Collin Morikawa, too. Just talks to me all the time. On his off weeks, he’ll check in on me, how it’s going. He did it all last week. So I have the utmost respect for him. I owe him a ton just giving his time and the fact that he really cares.”
—Max Homa, PGA Tour Player
Competitive Field Features Standouts and Past Winners
Although many of the world’s top-ranked golfers are skipping the John Deere Classic, a strong field is still taking shape at the par-71, 7,289-yard TPC Deere Run. Ben Griffin, currently ranked 17th, Sungjae Im from South Korea at No. 25, and Australian star Jason Day at No. 28 represent the highest-ranked players competing this week. Several former champions will also tee it up, including Davis Thompson, J.T. Poston, and Lucas Glover, each seeking to rediscover the form that earned them the title in previous years.
Davis Thompson set an impressive tournament scoring record last year, finishing at 28-under-par 256 to win by four shots. Thompson displayed his scoring capability yet again in last week’s Rocket Classic, won by South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter, achieving the rare feat of three eagles over a single nine-hole stretch in the third round. Despite this, Thompson ultimately ended the tournament nine shots adrift of the champion.
Low Scores Expected Amid Rising Stakes
With similar low-scoring conditions anticipated at TPC Deere Run, many players will look to repeat or improve upon last year’s performances. As the season’s end nears, the urgency for Fowler and Homa grows ever more pressing, with both aiming to string together the results needed for FedEx Cup qualification and to halt their recent slides.
Thompson remains optimistic that his approach is coming together at the right moment.
“I feel like I’m starting to drive the ball better and hit putts more online and just working on my reads,”
Thompson remarked.
“Yeah, just really working on the mental side of things trying to not let anything affect me and just stay positive throughout the round.”
—Davis Thompson, PGA Tour Player
The coming weekend at the John Deere Classic promises high drama and critical opportunities, as Rickie Fowler, Max Homa, and a determined field chase low scores and their place in the postseason spotlight. For Fowler, Homa, and their PGA Tour peers, every shot counts more than ever in this late-season showdown.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Has Rickie Fowler gone to Liv?
A. The six-time PGA Tour winner told Netflix that joining LIV was not the right decision for him. He explained that he does not play just for money but wants to compete against the best golfers in the world. He believes that the PGA Tour is the top place for competition and hopes it stays that way.
Q. Why did Rickie Fowler quit?
A. Rickie Fowler pulled out of the WM Phoenix Open before the second round because he was feeling sick. In the first round, he shot a score of 3-over 74. Fowler also grabbed attention by wearing an all-camouflage outfit during his round.
Q. Are Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy friends?
A. Rickie Fowler should look to Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory for encouragement. Seeing a good friend do well can be very inspiring. For Fowler, McIlroy’s recent success at The Masters could help him find the drive to return to his top form from several years ago.