Rickie Fowler was denied the invitation. Then he stressed

We are in the pain of writing letters on the PGA Tour, where there are four sponsor exempt attractions. Beg Signature event with $20 million wallet. Do you want to go in? You have to write a letter. Like Rafa Campos did in the Arnold Palmer invitational next week.

According to Golf Weekly, Campos’ letter was impressed by Sam Saunders – the grandson of Arnold Palmer – with so many event committees that his writing work won Campos one of four of these attractions. especially no Rickie Fowler (and other fan favorite Jordan Spieth).

Fowler has won sponsor invitations to multiple signature events this season, which shows that sponsors are eager to make the most of Fowler’s popularity. But does his script deserve it? Outside of a T4 ending in the fall series, Fowler’s final top ten on the tour was at the 2023 Open at the Los Angeles Country Club Open in 2023.

Fortunately for Fowler, it’s not all about the game. Sponsors are free to invite any PGA Tour members they like and stay within some reasonable parameters. In the past, Fowler was widely regarded as a net-positive invitation in the past. A month ago, he won a spot in the Cobblestone Beach Professionals a month ago and a few weeks later in the Genesis Invitational. But his interest in another free spot next week was denied, denying Campos, May Wo Lee, Mackenzie Hughes and Justin Ross.

Why?

Sanders told Adam Schupak, “Ritchie has already received some waivers in the elevated event, which is something that must be considered. You want other players to get the chance. There are a lot of players on the PGA Tour. And, you know, not everyone is probably a household name, but it’s about providing the best competition.”

Sponsors (and the tour itself) were criticized last year when some of the same players received a dominant invitation. Adam Scott and Webb Simpson were among the top choices. Simpson hasn’t done much at these attractions, but Scott has done a great job of finishing the race in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup last year to ensure he doesn’t have to write any letters in 2025.

This may just be a preference for a signature event – ​​we will find out when the RBC legacy confirms its invitation during Masters Week – but either way, Fowler seems to be very aware of it, if he doesn’t like it, his event. When asked about rejection, Fowler cites the classic two-word tour professionals often use: Play better.

“At the end of the day, play better,” he said at the Cognitive Classic. “It was great last year and won these events, and it would be much easier. Luckily thankful to Steve John for getting a spot on Pebble and AT&T, Tiger and Genesis got one in Torrey. But it was hard to try all of them. It was great to be able to get some of them.

“Yes, that’s it. Like I said, it comes down to it, playing well, that will take care of it. Obviously, I’m frustrated because I won’t be there next week. It’s a special event and obviously I have a very special relationship with Mr. Palmer. But we’ll see. We’ll see if we can get a trophy this week, which will fix that.”

He is right. Fowler can win his entry with a victory at PGA National. The second place in the solo will also likely be done, pushing Fowler into the Aon Swing 5, but the victory is guaranteed. Fowler knew this, and he played like he knew it.

Through 54 holes, Fowler was just right in the competition for the first time in nearly six months. He opened on Thursday with a 64-03-03 game, with the best round since October and held on Friday for 68 Fridays. In Saturday’s tricky, relaxed conditions, Fowler eased his “best things” in another 68 times, though he didn’t have “best things” and, as he admitted after the round, released this week only to lead the lead in a packed ranking. When everyone wakes up on Sunday morning, there are only a few times leading players that will have dozens of players.

Fowler is known for his full-scale game and has better driving force this week than usual. He won the game in the top ten on the court: off the tee. He will kick off the ball late Sunday afternoon and have a chance to prove what it is “better”.