Rickie Fowler: Why I Skipped the Scottish Open This Year

Rickie Fowler returns to the John Deere Classic for the first time since 2010 and shares his thoughts on the current state of the PGA TOUR, his schedule decisions, FedExCup ambitions, and life as a father of two. From balancing family time at the Big Dig to discussing the impact of Signature Events and potential Ryder Cup duties, Fowler opens up in this full press conference ahead of the 2025 John Deere Classic.

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Good morning. We’d like to welcome Ricky Fowler to the interview room here at the 2025 John Deere Classic. This is your first appearance here since 2010. Just share some opening thoughts on what it’s like to be back.
Uh it’s great to be back. Um you know, I was able to go play in uh Zack Johnson’s ProAm yesterday and, you know, see some faces I haven’t seen in a while and excited to be back at this tournament. Um you know, one that I I I definitely liked when I played it. I wish I would have played a little bit better, but um I feel like it’s just a tough part of the schedule. Um and it was always tough to kind of fit it in and make it work, especially leading into British and hopefully that’s okay. Um so, yeah, I was just excited that it was able to work out this this year. Um you know, decided to take next week off with Scottish and and play more here in the States. Um, so yeah, looking forward to taking the family um, you know, over to the big dig tonight. Um, this is this is a great family event. So, been a little different spot on my career and being able to do that stuff. Now,
you have five top 25 finishes this season. Can you just talk about the state of your game heading into this week?
Uh, I wish it was some better finishes than that, but it’s at least been heading the right direction. um you know feel like trending at the the right time taking last week away but outside of that um I feel like been seeing a lot of positives and um yeah I said heading heading the right direction uh with with the time of year we’re we’re in and um yeah just got to keep it simple go out and have fun and play golf.
Awesome. All right, we’ll open it up to questions. We’ll start right here with Craig. Ricky, uh, I know you addressed the schedule a little bit last week at in Detroit, but, uh, what I wanted to ask is one thing we’ve seen here, and it was it was Peter Malinady said that the tour models predicted this would happen. the signature events have had a uh have had an impact of deepening this field uh immensely um from you know 70 to 30 and and and uh it’s uh been an interesting um result. So any thoughts on on how that’s how the signature events have worked in to the advantage of the smaller tournaments? Uh, I think I mean it’s such a, you know, fairly small sample size. The signature events have only been around for for a couple years, but um, I do think we’ve seen, you know, maybe with the amount of cards that there are, there’s there’s more guys struggling to to get into some events. um you’re seeing guys playing more uh what these events mean, what points mean um until everything kind of settles or there’s maybe an an adjustment or change in in how many events and what events, you know, are worth as far as having signature regular events and then opposite fields. Um so we’ll see where that that goes. But yeah, the current the current state um you know, you are seeing um you know, if you’re looking at event structure, you know, this is a I don’t want to say it’s standard, but obviously there’s elevated events, there’s the normal PGA Tour events, and then opposite fields, but those normal events seem to be getting a little bit stronger field um just with guys playing maybe a little bit more and then where things fit in the schedule. um you know and then it’s tough. I I think it has forced guys to maybe play a some more. Um so that’s that’s the current say like I said kind of a small sample size. It’ll be interesting to see you know what changes or adjustments are made you know going forward and where the schedule of the tour may look in five or 10 years from now. How much does your standing um in FedEx Cup standings have to do with your decision to play here and and how it how you can um you know maybe take advantage of an opportunity to
uh well I mean I was I was basically going to play here or Scottish um and one of the reasons I haven’t played here in quite a while was being before the British and then it being before the Scottish. I always played the Scottish before the British. Um that was just kind of always my schedule. Um, this year I felt to free up the potential of the back end of the British and playing, you know, potentially 3M andor Greensboro. Um, I figured having Scottish off before the British and playing, you know, these three weeks in a row, Travelers, Rocket, and then here at the Deer, uh, felt was kind of a better flow and and like I said, freeing up the the before playoffs options for me. Um, so that was more of it. It wasn’t um, you know, really anything other than that, just what I felt was the best kind of flow of schedule for me. Expounding 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? 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, get 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.
You said you uh you liked the course, you like the tournament 15 years ago. So, now that you’re back, you’ve had a couple days. Can I think back to what you specifically liked about this tournament in this course and how how do you feel like it sets up well for your game here this week?
Uh, well, I mean, it’s it’s definitely a golf course. Play well. There’s a lot of offense. You can make a lot of birdies around this place. Um, you know, I haven’t been out on the course yet this week. I’m going to go play the front nine this afternoon. Hopefully get reacquainted and um be in back n tomorrow on the program. So, um, I’ve always kept up with the event, you know, depending on you, some buddies playing or Jordan, Zack, Stricker back in the day, the guys that were, you know, in contention. And, um, so remember the course a little bit, but it’s a little different, you know, watching, you know, whether it’s on the app or on TV versus actually playing. Um, yeah, it’s it’s a great golf course. I’m looking forward to to getting out there today and tomorrow and teeing it up on Thursday.
Go back to Craig. Sorry. Can Yeah. Um 15 years is pretty long time. Um a lot’s different. You get to take uh your, you know, toddlers to the uh to the big dig. How has your life changed? How are you a different person from uh you know, basically the the kid who came out here in in uh in 2010? Yeah, I mean this is 16th year on tour and um I don’t feel a whole lot older than I did then, but uh maybe a little more experience. Um you know, married and like you said, two kids and different different part of uh you know, my life now. Um you know, golf is still a a priority and and what I love to do, but um there’s there’s some other things that have moved in front of that. Um, obviously there’s there’s times where I need to go to to work, go practice, go play, but um, you know, family is is family. So, um, you know, I’m excited that we we still get to travel together uh, week in and week out, you know, up until school really starts. Um, at that point, it’ll be here and there and and primarily just summers. But, um, yeah, enjoying enjoying this part of life right now. Um and like I said, and and kind of enjoy it while we can. Um special to be all together. And then uh you know, like this week it you here at the deer being able to to have something like the the big dig. I know uh not sure if my our three and a halfyear-old Ma I’m not sure if she fully understands it, but um she’ll be pretty excited there tonight. Soon as she sits down in that big escalator, she’ll be pretty excited. what um uh Jordan was here last year and and he talked a little bit about going through the same kind of changes you have and still trying to find that kid like uh that kid like Joy that that you know carried him out of the bunker here in 2013. Do you do you do do you need to find that? Do you find yourself searching for that sometimes on the golf course?
Uh I mean I I I love to play. I think sometimes, you know, when you’re out competing, it’s it’s, you know, you’re and when you’re struggling or maybe not getting the results that you want, it’s um it can be tough to, you know, be out there and feel like you’re having fun. I mean, I go teaming it up with friends at home. It’s that’s that’s still fun. That’s I love to do that. Um it’s a lot more fun when you’re playing well at tournaments and in contention. Um, but when you look back, you know, for me looking back at the few years that I’ve struggled, uh, once you’re out of those, it it is it is the I enjoy the grind. I don’t know if everyone else does. The guys that have had success and been, you know, through the ups and downs, you you you appreciate the tough times because they they kind of help define you a bit and appreciate the times when you’re playing well. Um, so yeah, it’s it’s all about having fun. I mean, we all I would say majority of us enjoy it. Um, but there’s there’s definitely days where it’s it’s tough to have fun when it’s not exactly going the way you’re expecting.
All right, we have time for a couple more. We’ll go back to Bobby.
Ricky, obviously since you’ve been on tour, it seems like you’ve always been a fan favorite. This is a tournament that really embraces, you know, the big names, the Jordans, be the Zack Johnson’s, the Strickers. I fully expect kind of this week that you’re gonna have a lot of that support whether it’s here or just in general. Having the fans support you the way they do, what does that mean to you? How does that drive you uh week in week out? Uh it’s I mean one it’s been amazing to have the support that I’ve had over the years and especially the the younger generation and and you know I would say for for a while it was it was there a lot of just kids and now you know being 16 years on tour I’ve kids that have grown up um they’re a little older now than you know they started following me back in the day. Um so it’s definitely been great. I know this tournament’s always had an amazing turnout. Um it’s really cool to see um you know looking back at a couple weeks ago like a travelers it’s not like you’re in you know big city big town areas but um some of the smaller town areas get bigger and better kind of local turnouts. Um you know it’s kind of the the thing that’s going on versus being around a big city. There’s there’s plenty of options of other things to do. Um, so that’s what’s been I think special about this event at the deer is you it’s the fan support um and kind of the the energy and the atmosphere you get out there is is pretty cool.
All right, last one here with Tom.
Hey, for years you have been one of the marquee names in PGA tour fields. When you come to an event like this this week where you are the name, people want to come out and see Ricky Fowler, does that help get the juices flowing again for you?
It does. I mean, it’s it’s it was it was special to be able to kind of, I guess, earn that early on with just kind of being different, obviously playing well and and having that um you know, younger following and the kids gravitating towards me, which um can’t plan that. Um but special to be in that position where kids looked up to me and being able to be that person for them. Um it is it is added pressure but it’s it kind of comes with what we do and um I enjoy it but yeah it’s it’s it’s tough at times when you you might be struggling out there because you want to play well for the people that are there to support you. Um, but it’s also nice in those times where you are struggling because you you can look around and, you know, see, you know, kids wearing, you know, Puma hat or, you know, dressed as me or dressed like me and, um, kind of gives you a little bit of helps put things into perspective. And it’s like, it’s a game we play. It’s tough. Um, you know, yeah, it’d be nice to to play well all the time, but that’s not everything. Um, but to have that support can, you know, help get through some of those tough days. Any added pressure when you come into an event like this where you are, you know, the banner name?
Uh, yes and no. I mean, at this point in my career, I mean, we’ve played quite a few events. Um, and like I said, you know, golf isn’t necessarily what defines me. Um, I think more of the my family and friends and um, who I am as a person is is much more what I’ I’d rather be remembered as. Um, golf’s a bonus. And um, you know, it’s not that I don’t care by any means, but there’s I think there’s a fine line of, you know, maybe trying to push too hard or um, put too much pressure on yourself versus kind of sit back, relax, and enjoy. So, I said fine line there. um caring enough but not too much um to to make that a struggle versus what we’re kind of going back to earlier was just having fun and enjoy the situation that you’re in.
There’s been some chatter about you being an assistant captain for uh Keegan interested. Is that something you want to do?
I I haven’t heard anything on that. Um obviously I I’ve loved all the the team events I’ve been on and been a part of. Um, so we’ll uh we’ll deal with that if it if it comes to that. I’m obviously happy to help out, but um you know, I know Keegan’s working on trying to make his own team. Um he’s got some great guys uh at his side helping out. Um if they want me there, um you know, I would hope scheduling everything would work out. Um it’d be it’d be fun to be a part of, but uh we’ll we’ll deal with that when it gets to it.
Awesome. Thank you for your time, Ricky. Good luck this week.
Thank you.