JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 4, 2026

Rickie Fowler

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. Rickie, you said yesterday that you really didn't think you could score much lower or score any worse than you did. Is today about more what you expected coming into the week?

RICKIE FOWLER: I mean, if you shot 8 every day, you would be in a good position. No, it was a good solid day. It was nice to see some putts go in. Hit my irons a lot better, a lot tighter on lines and control out there.

SO, yeah, I mean, basically everything we would have wanted in the day, maybe other than a couple that didn't necessarily go in. I got some good breaks out there, as well, SO can't complain.

3-putted the last from long distance, but, you know, 8-under and moving ourselves up into a decent spot. We'll see how the guys finish up and see if we have any sort of chance tomorrow.

Q. The bomb at 14 had to get your pulse racing a little bit.

RICKIE FOWLER: You know, I really don't get heart rate up too much other than climbing some of the hills out there. Yeah, I made, you know, I guess about a 12-footer or so on my third hole, 12.

Then the hole right before 14 I had about a 30-footer and hit a perfect putt. Thought I made it and just didn't break at the end, so just kind of kept moving forward, kept trying to hit good putts and make them and finally got a longer one to go in there, 14. That was a nice bonus.

Q. You had a strong finish last year. Is this golf course -- they talk about fitting your eye. Does it fit yours?

RICKIE FOWLER: It's a good place. I enjoy it. It's fun to play. You know, you can score around here obviously. You see plenty of good scores, but it's also -- it can be tricky at times, especially when the wind starts to blow.

I don't think the golf course is as easy as some of the guys out here make it look, but the I think it's a good golf course. You have to kind of hit your spots.

There's not many holes that you can necessarily have guys that can take advantage of a bunch of distance. I think that's why you've seen a lot of different types of players that have won here. Not just guys that are short, long, middle. It's kind of been a little bit of everything.

So I've enjoyed it. I had a fun time here last year. The kids enjoyed it, so it was easy to decide to come back.

Q. A lot of guys on the board who are looking really to kind of pull themselves into FedEx Cup race. You've had more success than some. Do you feel like there's a big opportunity for you tomorrow?

RICKIE FOWLER: I mean, everyone out here is a very good player. You know, you'd say this field compared to some others may not necessarily stack up against some of our strongest fields, but I'd say it's just about as tough to win at any tournament when you compare them all.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Like I said, we'll kind of see where everyone finishes up, see how far back I'll be and what kind of push we can make, but a low one is possible. It's going to take a low one from wherever I'm at. Then, yeah, hope that no one else runs away.

Q. You showed what's possible scoring-wise today, especially after weather softened things up. You haven't seen a ton of what else is going on around the course. Are you surprised how these guys towards the top of the leaderboard aren't getting as low as you did?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, I was surprised. I saw Lucas got out early. Then, yeah, everything has kind of been on a standstill in a way.

Yeah, that happens, I feel like, a lot of weeks, too. There are times where you see guys go ahead and run away a bit, but also, times where it just kind of bunches up. I'm kind of hoping it stays this way. It gives me a better opportunity.

But at this point sit back, be a fan, and watch a lot. Zach Johnson the last two days, it was fun to see him come back from been hanging out with the guys on Champions Tour. He's had plenty of success around here.

There's going to be a lot of guys battling out tomorrow with low scores that are possible and see what happens.

Q. 4th of July, do you have any plans? Are you going to hang around and watch the concert with the family?

RICKIE FOWLER: We're in a house, have the family. We have chef and his family. I think we're just cooking out and hanging at the house.

Q. Maybe fire off some firecrackers?

RICKIE FOWLER: We're staying over by Davenport Country Club. They usually do a good fireworks show. Worst case, we'll be able to see some over there.