Golf might be a gentleman’s game, but that doesn’t mean things don’t get a little spicy now and then. Just ask Rickie Fowler.

During Round 3 of the 2025 Cognizant Classic, Fowler had one of those moments—you know, the kind where the frustration of the game meets a mouthy fan at just the wrong time. After missing a putt on the 16th hole, Fowler didn’t just brush off the spectator’s remark. Instead, he turned and delivered a mic-drop response: “Of course you know… that’s why you are in the stands.”

The clip instantly made the rounds on social media, with fans divided on whether Fowler’s clapback was justified or if he should have just kept his cool. But can you blame him? He’s been grinding, sitting at 13-under after a solid 3-under 68 in Round 3, currently tied for sixth. And let’s not forget—it’s been almost two years since he last won on the PGA Tour at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic. The guy wants this win badly.

The Cognizant Classic is a tournament Fowler has conquered before, way back in 2017. With a shot at another victory, every stroke matters. A missed putt at a crucial moment? That’s frustrating. A fan rubbing it in? That’s extra frustrating. Golfers are expected to stay composed, but hey, they’re human. And sometimes, you just gotta put a heckler in their place.

And, as expected, the golf community has some thoughts on Fowler’s reaction.

Fans aren’t holding back on Rickie Fowler’s heated response

Rickie Fowler had time for a heckler, and now, the golf world has time for him. After his clapback to the fan at the Cognizant Classic, reactions started flying, and, well… let’s just say the reactions weren’t exactly warm. One user didn’t sugarcoat their words, writing, “Rickie sucks lol.” Then there’s the TGL crowd, already looking ahead: “Rickie needs to bring this energy on TGL with NY Golf Club GC.” Because if he’s gonna talk like this, he might as well put on a show in the simulator league.

Some fans took a more psychological approach, reminding Fowler that getting rattled by hecklers isn’t exactly a winning strategy: “Easier said than done, but you have to try and stay in your bubble. Golf is hard enough without letting the retards in the stands bother you.” Basically, their advice was: stay locked in, ignore the noise, and don’t let some random guy ruin your focus.

Of course, not everyone sees Fowler’s fiery moment as a one-off. One particularly harsh critic took aim at his overall career trajectory: “Meanwhile Rickie holds his status at all because he’s an overhyped and overrated golfer who gets sponsors exemptions while better players are forced to stay home.” Ouch. But, to be fair, Fowler didn’t get a sponsor’s exemption for the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational, meaning unless he wins this week, he’s sitting that one out. And he knows it. After Round 2, Fowler himself acknowledged the situation, saying, “Well, at the end of the day, play better.” He admitted it’s frustrating, but he also knows the only way to fix it is to get back to his best.

And then there’s the finishing dagger: “If you’re so insecure about your game that you have to clap back at every idiot that shouts something when you hit a bad shot, you’re not likely to turn it around anytime soon.” Oof. Basically, some fans feel that if Fowler’s too keen on chirping back at fans, he’s not focused enough on getting back into the winner’s circle.

At the end of the day, Fowler’s competitive fire is showing—but whether it fuels a comeback or just adds to the noise is the real question. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!