TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2023

Rickie Fowler

TPC River Highlands

Quick Quotes

Q. When you left LA last Sunday, what was your mood? What one word would you use to sum up your emotions after last Sunday?

RICKIE FOWLER: One word? I'm not sure if there is one to really sum it all up.

I would say I was excited. You know, putting Sunday behind me, obviously bummed, but really just didn't have it on Sunday and really just tried to salvage what I could.

After then after seeing my daughter and wife coming off the 18th, a lot of that was kind of behind me. And then more just looking forward knowing how we've been playing, all the good stuff from last week, and just wanting to continue to go play some good golf and put myself in positions where I have chances to win.

Q. How engrained do you feel like the technical changes you made in your swing are? Are you having any technical thoughts or just playing holes?

RICKIE FOWLER: No, there is pretty much always thoughts. It's still a work in progress, but it continues to get better and better.

You know, some weeks or even some days are better than others. Yeah, it's just been something I've had to continue to focus on, exaggerate in practice and warmups, and then keep the thoughts minimal on course and go hit shots, execute, and play golf.

Q. At what point did 59 at all enter your mind?

RICKIE FOWLER: Making the turn. After birdieing 18 I knew I could potentially get six on the front, and especially after birdieing 1 and 2, my 10th and 11th. You know, 7-under through 11 is a pretty good spot to be in.

So, yeah, I mean, I would say between the turn and obviously after those 10th and 11th holes, yeah.

Q. Can you describe the eagle on 6 and the emotions after that knowing that it was a really realistic shot there at 59?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, after getting through 5 I made three pars there. You know, still was thinking, birdie the last four, so the chip was a bit of a bonus making three on 6.

And that made it a little easier that I didn't have to make all birdies coming in.

Q. You played here a lot over the years. Talk about the crowd. Did you notice a difference today from other days?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, no, the crowds are always great here, and then I was surprised how many people were out this morning with the weather and the rain and stuff.

But it was nice that rain decided to hold off after we got through our first hole. Yeah, we definitely had a good crowd, good energy. With J.T. playing well in front of me and continuing to kind of move up the board, especially the last three, four holes, seemed like more and more people came out which was great.

Q. That first look when you get up to the ball on 9, do you look at it and say, yeah, I can make this one?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, it was definitely makable, but at the same time a lot of slope and it ran away after the hole. I was trying to make it, but at the same time I didn't want to run it ten feet by, so the chip kind of landed a little soft.

Conditions were a little softer out there with the rain. So it wasn't a bad, bad chip, but I mean, really going back to the second, hit it right where I wanted to; wind just didn't move it.

I was bummed with that. I was trying to hit one in there close and at least give myself a putt at it.

Q. As soon as that left the club face on 9 you thought you stuffed it?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah. It started right where it landed and we had, you know, not windy, but it's blowing between five to ten out there, so I thought the ball was going to drift a few yards. Thought it was going to come down right on the stick. I guess the TaylorMade ball I'm playing is a little too tight in the wind.

Yeah, I hit a great shot; executed what I wanted to. If I went back out in the same conditions I would've told you this is where I want to start it and it should move to the hole; it just didn't.

Q. Have you broke 60 in noncompetitive rounds?

RICKIE FOWLER: I have once.

Q. Where?

RICKIE FOWLER: I shot 59 at MaKena. I can't remember -- it was a few years back. Rahm and I were playing together. I think I ended up winning the match 1-up. I shot 59, he shot 60. It was a grind.

Q. So they don't call it a comeback, but can you talk about what you found in your game recently and where your confidence is right now?

RICKIE FOWLER: I wouldn't say it's necessarily anything I found. I learned a lot over the last few years working with Tillery and being back with Butch and getting back to focusing on a few key things and where I'm in a position where I can go out and play golf with as limited thoughts as possible.

But a lot of that was exaggerating a few things to get myself in a better position on take way and at the top of the swing. So couple that with starting to make more putts, finally been able to kind of build some momentum and confidence over the last eight to ten months.

Q. What did you think your chances were starting today and how much have they improved after today's round?

RICKIE FOWLER: Well, you never say you're necessarily out of a tournament, but being ten back it's really up to either a round like I put together or the leaders not necessarily going anywhere.

You just kind of go out there and see what happens. You know, now we'll see where the guys end up out front, and then how much of a chance we really have tomorrow.

But I'm going to need another really good round of golf to give myself a legit shot.

Q. Looks like you're going to be chasing Keegan tomorrow. You guys were in the final group in Japan. Any sort of feeling of trying to get some revenge on him? He got you by one out there.

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, a little bit. He made a few clutch putts down the stretch at ZOZO and I had a couple that I missed. That was kind of what decided it.

We both had a solid week. Like I said, he just made a couple putts that ended up getting him the win.

So yeah, I'm still going to have to play really well tomorrow. He's going to be a handful in front of me, whether it's him or I think Chez is up there as well.

Yeah, it's going to be a bit more of the chasing behind and really see if we can get off to a solid start and get ourselves in the mix.

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