Waste Management: Rickie Fowler’s Struggles Continue in Arizona

For years, Rickie Fowler has been known as one of the most consistent golfers on tour in terms of finishing near the top of the leaderboard.

However, Fowler has struggled to find any consistency since the 2020 season. Since the beginning of 2020, Fowler has played in 22 events and has been cut eight times.

More from Pro Golf Now

• Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
• Fantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player Selections
• Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
• Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
• Fantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament

One tournament Fowler has consistently played well in is this weekend’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. In 11 appearances at TPC Scottsdale, Fowler has accumulated a win, two runner-up finishes, and three more top-15 finishes.

Early on, things looked promising for Rickie on Thursday as he started on the back nine. He began his early morning round with four straight pars.

On the par-5 14th, Fowler’s 313-yard drive found the middle of the fairway. His approach would leave him with a nearly 40-foot putt. Fowler stepped up and knocked it in for his first birdie of the day.

On the par-5 15th hole, Fowler hit another beauty of a drive to set himself up nicely. After the 309-yard drive, Fowler’s approach left him just short of the green. He would chip it within inches of the hole for what would have been an eagle, but he knocked in the gimme for his second straight birdie.

Fowler found himself in the water on No. 17, but played his next shot well enough to give himself a seven foot putt for par. Unfortunately, he missed the par putt and settled for a bogey.

Fowler followed up his bogey with five straight pars, which put him a 1-under par through 13 holes.

On the next four holes, Fowler missed the fairway on each of the three par-fours and missed the green on the par-3. He failed to save par on any hole and bogeyed hole 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Fowler would finish his day with a par on hole No. 9.

However, the damage was already done. Despite a respectable 35 through his first nine, Fowler shot a 39 on the front nine. He finished the day with a 3-over par 73, which currently puts him in a tie for 118th.