Rickie Fowler carded a three-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, delivering a composed and controlled performance built more on discipline than brilliance. On a course where scoring opportunities had to be carefully managed, the American relied on patience and a steady short game to position himself firmly inside the early contention.
Fowler acknowledged that not every hole was there for the taking and emphasized the importance of staying within himself throughout the round. “Some of the holes, par’s not a bad score,” he explained. “I just kept telling myself to stay patient.” After a quiet start in which he left several birdie chances short on slower-than-expected greens, his round gathered momentum as conditions improved. “Once the moisture dried out a little bit, I was able to get some things going after the turn,” he added.
The foundation of his round, however, was mental rather than technical. Fowler pointed to his composure as the key factor behind his solid start. “I wouldn’t say I did anything amazing,” he admitted. “Short game was good, made a couple of nice up-and-downs, which helps keep the momentum going. But I’d say the best part was just the mental side, staying patient and continuing to move forward.”
That mindset reflects a broader trend in Fowler’s game over the past year. After regaining confidence during a strong run in the second half of last season, he has carried that consistency into 2026, regularly placing himself in contention. “A lot of it is on the mental side, not trying to do too much or anything special,” he said. “Trying to let the rounds come to me and piece things together.”
Now in his 17th season on the PGA Tour, Fowler believes experience has played a decisive role in refining his approach. “If you’re not getting better mentally over the years, figuring out better ways to score, then something’s wrong,” he noted. “I feel like I’m in one of the best places I’ve been in terms of controlling the golf ball.”
Another encouraging sign has been his renewed confidence on the greens. After experimenting with different putters to overcome inconsistencies, Fowler feels he has rediscovered his touch. “I feel like I’m in a much better spot now,” he said. “The tempo, the feel, getting my hands synced up again—it’s all come back to a good place.”
With a clean, controlled 67 on the board, Fowler has given himself a strong platform heading into the rest of the week—one built not on fireworks, but on patience, experience and a game that continues to trend in the right direction.
