PGA Tour News: Rickie Fowler Eyes to Escape OWGR’s Hell Loop After Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele’s Withdrawal

Rickie Fowler finally seems to have a chance to climb the OWGR table. The WM Phoenix Open, arguably, has a weaker field than the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. More so, after two of the top five have pulled out of the WM Phoenix Open. Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele’s withdrawal followed that of Davis Riley. 

Fowler has slipped six spots in the OWGR rankings since his first outing this year at the Sentry. Currently, at 29, the WM Phoenix Open offers him the perfect opportunity to bounce back. In fact, OWGR points distribution in past events should buoy his hopes. 

Can Rickie Fowler climb the OWGR table?

OWGR has yet to reveal the point breakdown for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. Last year, Scottie Scheffler raked in 65 points for beating 17 of the top 20 on the OWGR leaderboard. This year, the WM Phoenix Open has lost its ‘elevated’ status, which means players will only play for an $8.8 million purse as opposed to the $20 million on offer last year, and OWGR will perhaps reduce the field rating as well. 

Regardless, the last non-signature full-field event, the Farmers Insurance Open, had a field rating of 320.7351. Matthieu Pavon received 55.16 points, taking a massive leap from 78 to 34 in the world ranking. Before that, the points-giving authority rated American Express at 323.78. Nick Dunlap, the first amateur to win on the Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991, received 55.68 points.

Expectedly, the Waste Management Phoenix Open will have a similar field rating. Around fifty points to his 125.76 will catapult him to the 12th spot with an average of 3.73 points. A top-three finish can earn Rickie Fowler around 20 points, judging by the American Express and Farmers Insurance Open leaderboards. That can prove to be enough for the six-time PGA Tour winner to come within the top 20. But of course, a lot will depend on how the 35-year-old performs on the Arizonian greens.

Looking at Fowler’s previous performances

The Jupiter resident has teed up in three events so far, missing cuts in one. His best performance this season has only yielded a tied 47th-place finish at the weather-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The six-time PGA Tour winner has broken 70 in only three of his ten rounds so far. But he can surely look to his history at the course for inspiration. 

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Rickie Fowler has six top-ten finishes at TCP Scottsdale, including a victory in 2019 and a runner-up finish in 2016. Last year, the University of Oklahoma alum finished in tenth place on the leaderboard, carding 10-under 274. Interestingly, this will be his 16th outing at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. 

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