Fan favorite Rickie Fowler made a loud statement on Friday in Round 1 with an all-camo outfit, but it was his golf game that was hidden, as he struggled to a three-over 74. Part of the reason for his rough round may have been that he was fighting an illness, which unfortunately forced him to withdraw from the WM Phoenix Open before Round 2.
Ladies and gentlemen…
It’s Thursday at the WM Phoenix Open. Let’s have a day. pic.twitter.com/ENxmupDafR
— Rickie Fowler Tracker (@Rickie_Tracker) February 6, 2025
Before the tournament, Rickie had +12000 odds to win the WM Phoenix Open on the DraftKings Sportsbook, and he came in with some solid sleeper buzz. He was owned in 12.7% of entries in DraftKings $1M People’s Open Special.
One of the reasons that he was popular was that he has a strong course history at TPC Scottsdale, where he has made 11-of-16 cuts in his career with five top-five finishes including his win back in 2019.
Fowler made the cut in his two previous events in 2025, finishing T21 at The American Express and T53 at the AT&T Pebble Beach, where he was playing in the Signature Event on a Sponsor’s Exemption. He was also included in the field on a Sponsor’s Exemption to next week’s Genesis Invitational. He’ll take the rest of this week to rest up and recover before trying to return for that event, which was relocated to Torrey Pines from its usual spot at Riviera Country Club.