Rickie Fowler has finally spoken out—and he’s not holding back. In a candid interview, Fowler made it clear he’s not on board with the PGA Tour’s new direction, expressing doubts about the changes sweeping through professional golf. From format shifts to LIV Golf influences, Rickie shares why he believes the tour is drifting away from what made it great.
Whether you agree or not, his words are sparking debate across the golf world. Is this the beginning of a player-led pushback?
Watch now to hear exactly what Fowler said and why it matters.
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Depending on the schedule issue, next year go from 125 to 100 cards, you and your lifestyle where you are now, a father of two, a little bit different perspective. How do you see your schedule working out next year? And have you even looked at that and how that’s going to play out at all?
Uh, I haven’t really looked at that too much just because I’m not sure where I’ll exactly be at. Um, you would love to have some solid weeks here and be inside the top 50 and, you know, go play tour championship. Um, you know, getting inside the top 30 be even better. Um, so some unknowns at this point, but um, I think going to 100, you know, could be it’ll I think it’s a step right in the right direction as far as, you know, we all want the PJ tour to be the most elite tour there is on, you know, out here. Um, the best product. Um, not saying that just the hundred is is how we get there, but you know, with guys getting, you know, maybe fewer and fewer starts that are towards the back end of of what cards are available. Um, you know, guys earning cards, whether it’s Q school through corn ferry. Um, I feel like their first year is almost like a try out. You only get, you know, a handful of starts and you better play good when you do. um versus when you earn a card to actually feel like you really have one. I think you know that may be a potentially where the tour might be heading. Um you know, ultimately it probably would be less cards, possibly less events. Um, you know, to me, I think I mentioned it last week, but to me, I I believe as far as the PGA Tour and the product and and being that elite, I I don’t personally believe in secondary or opposite field events. Um, that’s just me personally. I’m not saying they should or shouldn’t be around, but um, for what I believe that the PJ tour is, that’s that’s kind of where I’m at.
We’ll go to Bobby.
39 Comments
The PGA Tour sounds like its trying to force players more and more restricted smaller group. Let the whole group of 125 play when and where they want and see where the chips fall. Give the newer players a chance.
Rickie go and join Phil on the Liv tour you always played your best golf with Phil
The pga tour has a mission statement to provide as many playing opportunities as possible. That’s a good mission. Allowing Liv and its 54 man roster to do its thing opens playing opportunities for others.
I think opposite field events are fine for the same reason. But yes pga tour events should all be as guilty field as possible imo; especially the top events.
PGA tour greed has ruined many tournaments. The Tour tries to cram in spectator stands much much too close to greens. Stands should be 26 to 30 yards from any edge of the green. If there isn't enough room —- do not set up any seating !!!!!!!! 😡😡😡😡😡😡
Before 1983 the PGA tour only allowed 60 exempt players. Then it drastically changed to 125. Too many! 100 is more manageable. Today everybody is entitled, they think mediocrity is acceptable, they come from a generation where everybody gets a trophy win or lose. Here's a novel idea, play well and earn a tour card. If you can't, go find some other way to earn a living…
PGA Tour should merge with LIV… it will be a new Golden Era if it does, it will cause more growth and excitement again…
Players have gotta start winning IMO there making to much money living life on cruise mode non winners complaining
Get rid of the people running the Pga tour on the big bucks hand it to the players actually playing the game they have a way better idea then the one's running it
LIV rules the tour is toast
Leave LIV golf to die by itself. Those players that went to LIV showed their true colors and gave the PGA tour the middle finger when they left. LIV players really don't need to prove anything by playing golf against the best, they have proven they are prostitutes. Long live the PGA tour. I have not & will never watch any LIV events. Stop trying to make PGA tour golf like football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey and those other "team" sports. The all suck, their players are paid way too much money. PGA tour golfers earn their mony by how well they play in tournaments. You don't play well you may make nothing if you don't make the cut. Keep the football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey and team sports menality with their yelling & screaming and "get in the hole" shouts out of golf. That mentality is so stupid and childish. Grow up!
Hearing players refer to pro golf/PGA as a “product” is in my opinion, part of the problem. Why are professional athletes using business buzz words? This is the result of money grabbing corporate bureaucrats pushing an agenda based off of unrealistic metrics to increase viewership/attendance…so they can make more money.
PGA is boring to watch unless it has the LIV guys in a major
Why is this interview so dark? Feels like it’s AI
125 to 100 is an absolute terrible idea. Terrible.
Every other league has multiple "events" all season.. NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and etc.. All other sports also have massive college "events" all season that happen simultaneously to every other professional "event." So when Rickie says they can't run concurrent events, he is suffering from small thinking.. This is why golf is considered a game and not a sport. All sports entertainment also competes with every other kind of entertainment. Rock concerts and etc.. If golf can't handle two simultaneous events, then the wrong people are running the sport..
Gave up on even watching PGA stuff.
I prefer YouTube golf now.
The PGA players are in the process of destroying what has been handed to them. Greed and immaturity are the product the players are putting out there. We are not far from sponsors waking up and refusing to pay in the same amount for split fitness. Duh!
That’s why people are leaving for LIV
He'll be on the liv tour next year
AI
Ricky has a solid game not sure what is going on.
Hopefully, I will no longer have to endure Sunday final groups filled with guys who get hot then fade.
54 players is ideal
Ricky – Golf’s Leonardo DiCaprio.
Weed out the Weak ……..
I’d dissolve the PGA and have guys put in their own money and play for the pot. Maybe a sponsor can match it. I’d like to see guys play with their money on the line like we weekend hackers do. There is no reason a guy who comes in 20th each week is living like a king.
Slowly, but surely, turning into LIV. Limited fields, no cuts. Not to mention Opens not being open, with Monday Qs going away…
Fowler’s a good guy and impossible to root against, but his game is gone. When they have $20M limited field events which he is miles away from being eligible and gets a sponsor’s exemption to every one of them, it’s pretty sad. Even with all the charity he’s still outside the Fed X cup bubble.
Play better.
Before social media, the PGA could have reduced the field to 100 and no one would have even noticed. Now EVERY player must be asked and their degree in nothing related to business, economics, or how how to run a golf organization qualifies them to be an expert on the subject. ESPN will need to debate Ricky's opinion as valid and Brian Rolapp will be asked to defend his decision to not follow Ricky's recommendations. Ricky is a great golfer, and if I need advice on my swing he is an expert.
PGA is fading back to pre-Tiger.
If there are more opportunities and events to play you would need more tour cards not less.
I think Fed Ex controls the PGA now…bummer. Greed is a helluva strong opiate.
Stopped watching PGA golf, there are other world tours that steam, and covered on TV sports channels. PGA, wake up and realise golf is world wide and the world is delivering brilliant golf played by great players. PGA are loosing their grip on world golf and sponsors.
So Who Is instigating the money flow, and where is that money (or reward) is going?
Have you ever spoke with members at a golf club 😂😂😂
Some like
Some don’t like
Some don’t like things they’re never even involved in
😂😂😂
I just watched another hour and a half of Peter Finch playing in their PGA Championship and it is another Hour and a half longer than I will watch the PGAT this week. Awesome video, even though he was too far off the pace, he was then playing for a bye into next year's final qualifying for the Open Championship.. Great golf content.. Then the PGAT has guys like Lucas Glover on it, who wants to restrict who can play so he has less competition… They keep saying it is about the best players, playing the best, when clearly Lucas is all about Lucas.. They have small scared thinking.. When I worked at Merrill Lynch and someone left for another job, would I want Merrill Lynch to never rehire them? Of course not, that is crazy.. but that is exactly what guys like Glover, who I never watched even for a minute voluntarily, are saying about LIV Players.. Who wouldn't rather watch Bryson, Jon Rahm, Sergio and Phil play golf than Lucas Glover.. Seriously..
I totally agree with Rickie Fowler! The PGA Tour is tone deaf and misguided. Better figure it out very quickly !!! Going to 100 is the latest poor, ill-advised decision. To me, it feels like the Top 30 players are trying to make it "Their tour." Bad bad long term ideology there. These "Top 30" will be old before you know it, and then what?? We have to watch poor golf so they can get another jet?? Wake up PGA Tour !!!!
This is shrinking the game, not growing the game.