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. Not to mention, he joined the list of champions of this tournament in 2019, while he also went on his first date with his wife, Allison in Scottsdale. But last Thursday, after making headlines for his camo outfit at the course, he had to withdraw from the tournament citing illness.
Making his third start of the year, Fowler shot 2-over 74 on Thursday, including bogeys on his first two holes of the tournament and a double bogey on No. 9.
Thus, recently doubts began to surface when it was announced that he had abruptly withdrawn from the 2025 edition. Was there more going on here, or was it just “illness”? Let’s dive in.
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Rickie Fowler’s withdrawal from the WM Phoenix Open before the second round on February 7, 2025, shocked the golf community. Fowler’s exit was attributed to illness, according to the PGA Tour. At a place where he has previously performed well, he had shot 3-over 74 in the opening round, which was out of character for the seasoned player. Thus, a few analysts even started to wonder if Fowler’s performance in the first round had an impact on his exit or if his health issues were the sole explanation.
Three days after withdrawing and dispelling all the rumors, Fowler took to Instagram to provide an update on his health: “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.” This particular update highlights the severity of his condition and emphasizes his sincere regret for dropping off an event he cherishes.
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. 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.
Now, Fowler is concentrating on getting better and getting ready for the next Genesis Invitational, as he stated in his Instagram post. Both fans and analysts will be attentively observing him to see how he bounces back from this setback and whether he can get back to his previous level of play in the upcoming events. 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.
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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.
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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!
