Fowler ‘rusty as can be’ but relaxed after extended break

Rickie Fowler hasn't played a golf tournament since the Open Championship, taking two-and-a-half months off from competition.

Fowler – who finished the regular season outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings – was already unlikely to make the 70-man playoffs before choosing to skip the Wyndham Championship, the regular-season finale. But part of that decision can be chalked up to a growing family. Fowler and his wife Allison welcomed their second child in August.

With the playoffs and a slow September (one PGA Tour event plus the Presidents Cup) in the rearview, Fowler is hitting the links again at this week's Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Miss. He was asked Tuesday how he feels his game is right now.

The terrible twos aren't so bad according to @RickieFowler 👶 pic.twitter.com/Dape57Jhaq

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 1, 2024

"I mean, as rusty as I can be with the two little ones at home, but it was definitely nice," Fowler said. "Like I mentioned, we don't get a whole lot of downtime when you're playing through full seasons. To be there sleeping in the same bed for an extended period of time, no, it feels good to have that time off, kind of refresh, rebuild a bit. Excited to come back out."

Fowler also plans to play the Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas and the Zozo Championship outside Tokyo later this month.

"I guess the last month and a half or so I've gotten back more into working on the game and getting ready to come here," he said. "It was odd packing, back to life on the road. Typically traveling with the family, it made more sense to come solo. ... But it'll be nice, they're going to be with me for Vegas coming up."

STAKES ARE HIGH

Fowler said he aims to shake off some of that rust this week, but later clarified that that's not his only goal.

"It was a fun (tournament) to be able to add. Like I said, I wouldn't be coming here just to work on things or shake off rust. I came here feeling like I was in a good spot and can go play some good golf," Fowler said.

In the second of eight events in the FedEx Cup Fall, the stakes are high for many golfers on tour, though Fowler is safe from potentially losing his card. Because Fowler won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July 2023, he earned an automatic two-year exemption on tour.

"Luckily for me, having won last year, I'm safe on certain things, but there's definitely things for me to play for," Fowler said. "Obviously to win and put myself in a better situation, get myself back in a good spot world ranking-wise, ultimately stay inside top 125, be in The Players (Championship). Plenty to play for, but at the same time, it's not life or death.

"For me coming off that bit of downtime and refreshed and ready to go, I'm looking forward to playing well and kind of building a little bit better platform than where I was last year and put myself in a better position to have a little more excitement, build some momentum and confidence going into the ‘25 season."