Rickie Fowler Climbs to 48th in FedEx Cup After T6 Finish at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Steady Play at TPC Southwind
Rickie Fowler’s playoff push is alive and well. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy rolled out of Memphis on Sunday with a T6 finish at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and, more importantly, a move into the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings at No. 48. That books his trip to the BMW Championship and locks in all eight Signature Events next season, with a path toward the Tour Championship at East Lake still open.
Clutch Finish on 17 and 18
On the par-4 17th, Fowler knew two pars would do it. His approach with a hooded eight iron came up short, leaving a tight-lie chip that ran past the hole. He faced a testy uphill par putt—and buried it. At 18, he found the fairway, left 160 yards in, stuck the approach, missed the birdie by inches, and tapped in from 18 inches to close the job.
Comfortable on Zoysia, New Test on Bentgrass
TPC Southwind’s renovation brought Zeon zoysia to key surrounds and tighter lies—conditions Fowler knows well from Oklahoma State’s Karsten Creek. He looked right at home. Next up, a different look entirely: Caves Valley Golf Clubfeatures bentgrass fairways and greens, which will change the feel into and on the greens.
Fan Reaction
Looking Ahead
Fowler won’t be alone in Maryland—Viktor Hovland, another OSU standout, sits 28th (1,296 points). Wyndham Clark, who started his college career in Stillwater before finishing at Oregon, slipped to 56th and will need to make his move in the fall. Fowler’s jump—16 spots to 48th (1,031 points)—was among the week’s biggest moves.
Hovland’s Health Status
Hovland’s season has included a neck injury that forced him to withdraw from the Travelers Championship in June. He’s been managing recovery with rest and physiotherapy; expectations are that he’ll tee it up at the BMW at Caves Valley, with fitness monitored day-to-day.
Next stop: Caves Valley Golf Club. If Fowler keeps hitting it like he did in Memphis—and keeps cashing those pressure putts—this run could carry all the way to East Lake.
