WM PHOENIX OPEN

February 6, 2026

Rickie Fowler

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about your round today. Pretty solid it seemed.

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, the last 17 holes somewhat solid. Yeah, some scrambling in there. Did a good job moving forward after a rough start.

Yeah, thought I did the hard part getting in the fairway on 10 and the ball wasn't quite going yet and misjudged a little bit there and ended up in the front bunker and there was no sand.

I made a little bit of a mess of it. Si Woo made bogey as well from there. He went on to have a really nice day and I just tried to hang on.

Q. In what ways would you say this environment helps bring out your personality on the course?

RICKIE FOWLER: I wouldn't say I get too excited or down out there. I'm pretty mellow and fairly level while I'm on the golf course. There is definitely times you make birdie or hit good shots on the right hole with the crowd around, you might play to the crowd a little bit more than what you would normally do.

Unfortunately I don't think I -- I haven't done a whole lot yet in front of the big crowd, so need to work on that for the weekend.

Q. What does that look like when you do?

RICKIE FOWLER: Well, you're obviously trying to hit a good shot or make the putt when you have a chance, but when there is that many people around it's a little more satisfying. Like I said, still the same goal as if there is no one around. Yeah, to hear that noise, there is very few tournaments that really get to the same volume as a few holes out here.

Q. Why did you bring back the longer hair?

RICKIE FOWLER: I don't know. I mean, I still get it cut here and there. It hasn't been short for a while, yeah.

Q. Just curious.

RICKIE FOWLER: No reason.

Q. Just a thing.

RICKIE FOWLER: I think basically since Nelly was born I just kept it going. I think we might have about the same length. I might still have her. She's going to catch up soon.

Q. It's still early in the season. I'm interested in the, quote, offseason that you guys had. What was the point of emphasis heading into this year for you?

RICKIE FOWLER: For me it was -- going back to offseason, it was nice to play good enough to get inside the top 50 and earn some time off where I didn't have to play.

So I was able to spend some time, do some recovery with my shoulder. I was dealing with some bursitis and fluid, had some inflammation there.

Basically hurt all last year. Was on pain meds all year. Did some PRP injections September, so I had six weeks where I really didn't touch a club.

So that the main emphasis, just get to a spot where I can not have to take Advil or other things to take the edge off.

Q. This is a 16 question, kind of fun one. Fate the universe on the line, if there was someone to hit a tee shot with the fate of the universe on the line on 16 to hit the green, who would you take?

RICKIE FOWLER: To just hit the green?

Q. To hit the green.

RICKIE FOWLER: I mean, outside of myself.

Q. Yeah.

RICKIE FOWLER: Couple names that come to mind, Tiger, JT, Scottie obviously right now. Cantlay. We can keep going down the list.

Xander. Guys that stand out and obviously guys that continued to play well or had careers like Tiger, they're not afraid of those situations and the moment.

Q. You're okay with the universe on your shoulders?

RICKIE FOWLER: I might defer just in case. I think the guys that I named, and there is a handful more, that would be all right.

Q. What shoulder did you hurt?

RICKIE FOWLER: Left. I've always dealt with it. I had an issue with it since high school really.

I have a couple SLAP tears in there, which are pretty normal. A lot of people have that a lot of times from swinging; it allows me to do what I need to do.

Sometimes it would flare up here and there. It would be irritated for a couple days and go away. This year or last year going into the season it just flared up and kind of got worse and never went away.

Like I said, had to fight and grind it out and figure out a way to keep going. Luckily we did. Then was able to spend some time and try and get it to calm down a bit.

Q. Rehab but no surgery?

RICKIE FOWLER: No, just injections to help get rid of the inflammation and bursitis. Still don't feel great. At least during the swing I'm good there. Not having to take anything to take the edge off.

Q. This course is deemed as one of the hardest maybe on the TOUR; not particularly. But is there a favorite hole and least favorite on this course?

RICKIE FOWLER: I mean, favorite out here have to do with 16. Least favorite, I mean, I've played it fine you have fine this week, but 5. I've hit it in the left desert, in the cactus, I've hit it in the hotel to the right. It's just a sneaky tough driving hole.

You hit it down there, it turns into a birdie hole, but some reason that tee ball has given me fits over the years. I've hit two good ones this week, so got that out of the way.

Q. Talking about 16, do you think it helps the game of golf to have a game where...

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, no, it's great. I've always loved this event, especially 16. To see over the years how that's gotten bigger, 17 has gotten more built out, same with 18. You wouldn't necessarily want this atmosphere every week. You know, it would get to be maybe a little too muff.

But that's what make this event unique and special. The Thunderbirds and WM have done a great job over the years. It's grown organically. Wasn't like they just built it and then tried to fill as years went on. All this added on because the demand was there.

So this has been 30-plus years in the making.