Rickie Fowler Ignites John Deere Classic Leaderboard—Watch His Stunning Comeback Live

Rickie Fowler turned Independence Day into his personal fireworks show, torching TPC Deere Run with an 8-under 63 on Saturday to rocket up the John Deere Classic leaderboard. Starting on the back nine, the six-time PGA TOUR winner drove the reachable par-4 14th 334 yards and poured in a 39-foot eagle putt that jump-started a round featuring seven birdies and just one bogey. Fowler gained more than three strokes on the field with the putter alone, holing 137 feet of putts only two days after taking 140 feet to get through the first 36 holes. His back-nine 30 vaulted him from the cut line to a tie for 12th at 11-under 202, five shots behind co-leaders Lucas Glover and Lee Hodges heading into Sunday’s finale. The 37-year-old Californian entered the week 33rd in the FedExCup standings and 42nd in the Official World Golf Ranking, already owning four top-10 finishes this season. A victory in Silvis would be his first since the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic and his seventh TOUR title overall. Standing in his way is hometown hero Zach Johnson, the 50-year-old two-time major champion who sits at 13-under after a third-round 66 as he chases a second John Deere crown. Fowler praised Johnson’s ageless play, noting that “everyone out here is a very good player,” regardless of résumé. Historically, low numbers are required on Sunday at the John Deere, and Fowler owns the firepower to oblige—he ranked inside the top 20 in birdie average coming into the week. With soft greens and modest winds in the forecast, look for red numbers early; the last eight champions here have reached at least 20-under. If Fowler can replicate Saturday’s roll with the flat stick, the orange-clad fan favorite could add a Deere trophy to his collection and inject fresh momentum into the summer swing.