Golf star offers perfect response to critics annoyed at PGA Championship invite

Rickie Fowler has let his golf do the talking after criticism over his wildcard for next week's Championship. The 36-year-old fired a sublime seven-under-par 63 in the opening round of the Truist Championship on Thursday, leaving him two shots off early leader Keith Mitchall.

The world No.125 was handed a sponsor's exemption into the tournament at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. However, it's his invite to Quail Hollow for the second major of the year next week that has sparked a backlash. Fowler has not won on the PGA Tour since July 2023 and is yet to win a major championship, failing to qualify for the in April.

Fowler fired eight birdies and just one bogey, showing the sort of form that once saw him ranked the fourth best player in the world. In 2014, he registered a top-five finish in all four majors, but his career has been tainted by the anguish of being a runner-up at the , US Open, and PGA Championship.

However, despite critics arguing he no longer merits exemptions from big events, after his round, Fowler argued the doubters only spurred him on. He compared the situation to the build-up to the 2015 Players Championship, an event he won following a controversial Sports Illustrated player poll.

"The negative stuff, I would say, kind of helps me in a way because it fuels me to kind of go out and prove people wrong," he said. "I feel like there was something prior to the 2015 Players saying I was the most overrated player, and that worked out all right that week.

"Obviously, you want to come out and prove yourself after an invite. I haven't been playing all that well last year and at the start of this year. But it hasn't been very far off."

Fowler, one of just four golfers to shoot a 62 in a major championship, also insisted he was happy to accept wildcards. And despite Mitchall bettering his blistering start, he's now trying to continue his form into Friday's second round and the weekend.

He continued: "Tournaments have given me the opportunity to come play with a number of exemptions this year, which I'm very happy for and appreciate from the sponsors and the tournament directors. So off to a good start and looking forward to keeping it rolling."