Rickie Fowler withdrew from the WM Phoenix Open on Friday morning, citing illness.
Fowler is a fan favorite everywhere but has a special bond with the Thunderbirds and the tournament, which gave him a sponsor’s invitation in 2010. He’s played in “The People’s Open” at TPC Scottsdale every year since and joined the list of champions of this tournament in 2019. He also went on his first fate with his wife, Allison, while in Scottsdale.
Fowler shot 2-over 74 on Thursday, including bogeys on his first two holes of the tournament and a double bogey on No. 9.
Fowler, 36, was making his third start of the year. He finished T-21 at The American Express and then T-53 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last week. He’s coming off a disappointing season in which he recorded just one top-10 finish and his world ranking has dropped to No. 85.
Despite his short stay this week in the Valley of the Sun, Fowler still managed to make plenty of headlines. His camouflage outfit was the talk of social media on Thursday.
Fowler is expected to play next week at the Genesis Invitational on a sponsor’s exemption.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rickie Fowler withdrew on Friday citing illness
