Rickie Fowler praised his longtime friend and former Walker Cup teammate Bud Cauley for his impressive performance at the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, highlighting Cauley’s resilience after years of injury setbacks. The event is taking place at TPC Southwind, where both players are demonstrating strong form.
Fowler, a six-time PGA Tour winner, is tied for sixth place at 9-under par, while Cauley follows closely at 7-under. Cauley has made a notable return to professional golf this season after missing several years due to severe injuries sustained from a 2018 car accident and related complications. His return marks a significant milestone in his career, showcasing determination and perseverance.
Rickie Fowler Reflects on Bud Cauley’s Determination and Progress
During a post-round interview, Rickie Fowler expressed admiration for Cauley’s journey back to competitive golf.
“It’s been awesome to see Bud have some solid golf, some good finishes,” he said. “Seeing what he’s gone through from the accident a handful of years ago, all the surgeries, rehab, all of that, playing with him at home when things were starting to get close, playing with him last year, we played a bit in the fall. He was swinging really well. It was obviously just getting it out and doing it in tournaments.
“It’s nice to see him finally back out playing some golf after those handful of years where he was kind of back and forth dealing with it seemed like one problem after another. It’s been really fun to watch. Obviously Bud is a good buddy of mine, Walker Cup teammates back in ’09, so yeah, really happy for him.”
Cauley’s recovery story is remarkable. After breaking six ribs in a serious crash in 2018, he returned to the tour but was eventually sidelined again by ongoing health struggles up to 2021. He resumed competitive play last season and has since made significant strides, recording four top-10 finishes and achieving 53rd place in the FedEx Cup standings in 2025.
Details of the Final Round at the FedEx St. Jude Championship
Rickie Fowler will tee off alongside Chris Kirk in the final round on Sunday, August 10, starting at 12:10 pm Central Time from the first hole. Bud Cauley is set to begin his round just before them at 11:40 am CT, paired with Si Woo Kim.
The day’s play at TPC Memphis will begin early, with Min Woo Lee starting at 6:45 am CT from the first tee. Tournament leader Tommy Fleetwood is scheduled to resume at 12:40 pm alongside Justin Rose. After the third round, Fowler is five strokes behind Fleetwood, who leads at 14-under, with Rose trailing closely by one shot.
This tournament is a critical moment for both Fowler and Cauley as they look to cement their standings and make a strong push in the FedEx Cup race. Fowler’s recognition of Cauley’s comeback shines a light on the resilience and perseverance required to overcome major setbacks in professional golf and highlights the deep camaraderie shared between the two athletes.