SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rickie Fowler has withdrawn from the WM Phoenix Open, citing an illness.
He shot a 3-over 74 during round one, a day in which he struggled at TPC Scottsdale. In doing so, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy looked more like a Big Game Hunter as Fowler donned a camouflage outfit from head to toe. His look caught the attention of everyone on the grounds as well as on social media.
The moment of his first round came on the par-4 9th hole. Fowler, who hit only 7-of-14 fairways on Thursday, pulled his tee shot well left of the fairway, and his ball came to rest in a bush.
The jokes about his second shot on the 9th then wrote themselves:
He blended in with the bush, looking like he was on a hunting expedition instead of competing in “The People’s Open.” Fowler could only summon a chip-out from there and ultimately made a double-bogey, emblematic of his round overall.
Last week at Pebble Beach, Fowler tied for 53rd, and before that, he made his season debut at The American Express, where he tied for 21st. He carded a 10-under 62 during the second round on the Nicklaus Tournament Course that week, his lowest score since the first round of the 2023 U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club.
Fowler played sporadically last fall, making three starts in October. His best finish came at the ZOZO Championship, a solo fourth finish, marking the 16th straight season in which he recorded a top-10 on the PGA Tour.
He did receive a sponsor’s exemption into next week’s Genesis Invitational hosted by Tiger Woods. That event moved from Riviera in Los Angeles to Torrey Pines South in San Diego due to the wildfires that wreaked havoc in Pacific Palisades. Considering his camo outfit did him no favors in Scottsdale, Fowler will likely not pull it out again next week — that is, if he is healthy enough to compete.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
