Rickie Fowler’s six-word response to LIV Golf speaks volumes after calling for punishment

Rickie Fowler, once heavily linked to a potential move to LIV Golf, has chosen to remain loyal to the PGA Tour. This week, he is set to defend his Rocket Mortgage Classic title.

Fowler, who burst onto the golf scene over a decade ago as a promising talent, had seen a decline in his PGA Tour performance in recent years. However, he made a remarkable comeback at the Detroit Golf Club last July, where he claimed victory in a thrilling playoff against Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin. This win marked his first PGA Tour triumph in four-and-a-half years.

During his challenging period, rumors circulated that LIV Golf, led by Greg Norman, was interested in recruiting Fowler. LIV had already attracted several prominent golfers, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka. Despite the allure, Fowler decided to stay with the PGA Tour, stating that joining LIV “wasn’t the best choice for me,” signaling his commitment to the established tour over the Saudi-backed rival.

In an appearance on Netflix’s show “Full Swing,” Fowler discussed his decision not to join LIV Golf. He emphasized his desire to compete against the best players in the world, which he believes is best achieved through the PGA Tour. “I’m not out there playing for a paycheck,” Fowler said. “I’m out there playing to compete with the best players in the world, and I believe the Tour is the best place to be. I’d like to see it continue to be like that.”

Since his victory last July, Fowler has faced challenges in regaining his peak form and has not been in contention for a title this season. However, he showed signs of progress with a top-20 finish at the Travelers Championship last week and hopes to build on this momentum in Detroit.

Reflecting on his recent performance, Fowler noted, “I started to score a little bit better last week, which is obviously kind of the name of the game, putting up good numbers. I putted well last week. It was the first week to see some good progress and build some momentum and confidence going into this week. I’m looking forward to being back and picking up where we left off last year. I haven’t played quite that well since then, so it would be nice to get things going again this week here at Rocket.”

Fowler’s commitment to the PGA Tour goes beyond his personal career. He disagrees with Rory McIlroy’s stance that players who joined LIV should be welcomed back without penalties. “Probably not in the same spot as Rory – maybe we started in a similar area, but I think there’s been a little rollercoaster ride on his part,” Fowler explained.

Fowler emphasized his belief in the PGA Tour and its role as the premier golfing platform. He praised fellow golfers like Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, and Tiger Woods for their efforts to strengthen the Tour. “I always thought the Tour was the best place to play and wanted to see it continue to be that,” he said. “We’re in a different spot a few years down the road, and I feel like when I talked about Cantlay, Jordan, Tiger, those guys, they put a lot of time and effort to put us in a better spot and make sure that the Tour continues to be the best place to play.”

As Fowler prepares to defend his title, he remains focused on competing at the highest level within the PGA Tour, reaffirming his commitment to the tour that has shaped his career.