Rickie Fowler has put himself in a decent position after two rounds of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he’s still within reach of a win at Bay Hill this week.
Fowler carded consecutive 69s over the opening two days and heads into the weekend in sixth place, seven shots behind leader Daniel Berger.
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Bay Hill is always one of those events where everyone in the field is eager to play well, given everything Arnold Palmer meant to the sport.
After dealing with injuries throughout much of 2025, Fowler has started showing real signs of progress lately. The American is keen to rediscover his best form after spending far too long outside the conversation.
Based on what we’ve seen from him so far this week at Bay Hill, another victory might not be too far off either.
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
Rickie Fowler reflects on a difficult conversation with Arnold Palmer
Fowler has only skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational twice in his career – once in 2016 and again in 2025.
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The six-time PGA Tour winner was asked how tough it was to inform Mr Palmer that he would be missing the tournament at Bay Hill ten years ago.
“Yeah, it was definitely tough,” Fowler said. “But, you know, it was what I thought was best for schedule and for me personally. I have to give credit to my old agent Sam, it was his idea. He’s like, you should go do it face-to-face.
“So we drove up here and had lunch with him. It was probably one of the hardest things I had to do. Felt like worse than a breakup, you know, to come up here and tell him that.
“It wasn’t — he wasn’t too excited. But obviously him being a player he understood and respected that I came here and told him.
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“So it was special to have the relationship that I did with him and to be in a position now where we continue to do stuff to help out the foundation and do our little part to help continue on that legacy.”
Rickie Fowler opens up on what a Bay Hill win would mean
After his second round on Friday, Fowler was asked how much winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational would mean to him.
“Yeah, this is, this would be very high on the list,” the 37-year-old American admitted.
“It would be a lot more special being able to get that red sweater from Arnie himself. But, no, this has always been one of my favourite events. We’ve played it, I think I missed it last year and missed it once before. I won a junior event back here in the day, an AJGA event.
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“We’ve had chances and played well here before. But, yeah, this is a special one, especially with one, the field, but the golf course, the test, it’s a grind, and the guys that win here and have success here, you can’t fake it around this place, you have to earn it.”
Fowler will have to make up seven shots on Daniel Berger over the weekend if he wants to win at Bay Hill. But based on his form so far in Orlando – don’t rule him out of pulling off something special yet again!
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