It was in 2009 when John Felix, the then chief of Thunderbirds, called up a rookie Ricke Fowler to be one of the five sponsor picks for the Phoenix Open. Fowler, a 20-year-old sophomore student at Oklahoma University back then, was a surprise pick and Felix received a lot of flak for the choice. But he was vindicated as Fowler became the face of the WM Phoenix Open, winning the event in 2019. Hence, having done historically well at the event, he wasn’t too pleased when he had to announce his sudden withdrawal from the tournament last Friday.

The WM Phoenix Open and Scottsdale hold a special place for Rickie Fowler. The tournament gave him a sponsor invitation in 2009 and he’s played in “The People’s Open” at TPC Scottsdale every year since. Moreover, he also went on his first date with his wife, Allison in Scottsdale. This year, he also made headlines for his camo outfit at the course, before having to WD from the ongoing event, citing illness.

After finishing T-21 at The American Express and then T-53 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week, Fowler shot 2-over 74 on Thursday, including bogeys on his first two holes of the tournament and a double bogey on No. 9. However, his campaign came to a screeching halt after the PGA Tour announced that he will be withdrawing ahead of the second round. Three days later after his exit, Fowler provided an update on his health as well as shared plans about his future.

Fowler took to his Instagram story to note, “I’m bummed I had to WD this week… I was battling the flu Thursday, and come Friday morning I wasn’t in a position to play… The @wmphoenixopen is my favorite event of the year!! With a lot of rest, we are off to @thegenesisinv and looking forward to picking the clubs back up.” 

Additionally, the Instagram account @rickie_tracker offered more details on his health condition, stating that the night before his withdrawal, Fowler had a 103-degree high temperature, headache, and physical pain. There were some rumors floating around as to why Fowler withdrew, but despite all the conjecture, it’s crucial to take into account Fowler’s background and personality.

He has maintained a reputation for professionalism and commitment to the sport throughout his career. His prior results at the WM Phoenix Open show his competence and comfort level there; thus, a medical condition could be an adequate explanation for his departure.

While the golf community hopes Fowler returns to good health soon, the announcement related to his participation at the Genesis Invitational has not gone down well.

Fowler was initially not a part of the Genesis Invitational after failing to qualify automatically but received a special invite thanks to the sponsors. Fowler is currently ranked 85th in the world by OWGR but remains one of the most popular players on the tour.

However, the exemption he received for the Genesis was criticized by many fans online. One fan pointed out that the system was “broken” to allow players who didn’t qualify to play in big events, writing, “Didn’t play well enough but still get access to elevated OWGR pts. The system is broken!”

Another fan also pointed out, “Stop giving exemptions to players who don’t earn their way in.” Fowler had a poor 2024 and recorded just one top-10 finish. As a result, he also received an exemption entry into the WD Phoenix tournament as well.

A fan even questioned whether calling invitees to participate dilutes its importance. “Makes you question the authenticity of the whole enterprise, doesn’t it”, they wrote. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth, who finished 80th on the 2024 FedEx Cup points list, was among those who have received a sponsor exemption for next week’s signature event. These inclusions brought growing concerns among fans and sparked meritocracy debates. Meanwhile, Fowler didn’t escape favoritism allegations for his outfit as well.

Boo Weekley, appreciated by the PGA Tour for his efforts to promote the game, found himself in their bad books after being asked to change his camouflage rain pants in 2002. After seeing Fowler’s camo attire on Thursday, Weekley couldn’t resist tweeting about how PGA Tour made him change his outfit back in the day.

“It’s a shame that in the mid-2000’s that @PGATOUR told me, made me, change pants because it wasn’t a color! I was sponsored by @MossyOak and @Realtree at different times. Loved both companies and how they were ran. I’m grateful for all the opportunities they gave me,” he wrote.

Since Fowler is now out of the WM Phoenix event, let’s see on whom the current spotlight for this event is!

A highlight of the Genesis Invitational: Tony Finau shows up as a great prospect

As the PGA Tour progresses, the focus turns to the Genesis Invitational, which will be held at Torrey Pines from February 13–16, 2025. In addition to world number one Scottie Scheffler, the tournament has an outstanding field, as Rickie Fowler has already expressed his delight about it. However, Tony Finau has been identified by golf analyst Patrick McDonald as a noteworthy possibility who is reasonably priced at +4500 odds.

With several top-10 finishes in recent years, Finau has an impressive record at Torrey Pines. He is well-suited to the course’s demands because of his ability to play both short games and driving distance. McDonald highlights Finau’s ability to succeed in the forthcoming tournament by highlighting his seven straight top-25 finishes from 2015 to 2021 and his steady play at Torrey Pines.

Previously Tiger Woods was also supposedly part of the list of players for the event. the GOAT had shown determination to play the event even at the advent of his mother’s death, spurring some emotional responses from fans. However, with the latest update on X, Mr. T announced that he indeed requires some time to process and would not be part of the field at Torrey Pines.

All eyes will be on the field’s performance as the Genesis Invitational draws near, particularly in light of the increased excitement surrounding Rickie Fowler’s recuperation and Tiger Woods’ comeback. For golf fans throughout the world, the tournament’s dynamics promise to provide gripping stories. Who do you think will shine in this event? Drop your thoughts in the comment below!