Rickie Fowler bags critical rankings points with best finish of '24

Rickie Fowler began the lengthy trip back to Florida from Japan on Monday, likely spending some of the time in the air contemplating whether to add further events to his fall schedule.

Fowler was 111th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings two weeks ago but vaulted up to No 92 with a solo fourth place finish at the Zozo Championship on Sunday. That came on the heels of a T23 at the Shriners Children's Open and a T16 at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

The former United States Ryder Cup star committed to three fall events following an extended layoff in an attempt to improve his playing status for the 2025 season. Only three events remain in the eight-tournament FedEx Cup Fall schedule, and Fowler is not in the field at this week's World Wide Technology Championship in Mexico.

That would leave only the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and/or season-ending The RSM Classic for Fowler to improve his standing. He is planning to play in the Grant Thornton Invitational in mid-December, a mixed-team event co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour that does not provide FedEx Cup points.

The top 125 players in the standings will remain fully exempt for the 2025 season. Fowler is likely safely within the top 125, but those who finish the fall Nos. 51-60 will serve as the Aon Next 10 and gain entry into the first two signature events of 2025 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.

While in Japan, Fowler was not specifically asked about whether he intends to add another event or two before the end of the year, but he was pleased with carding four rounds of 68 or better at the Zozo. That also helped him post at least one top-10 finish for the 16th consecutive year on the PGA Tour.

"Excited about the way I've been able to play the few events that I've played this fall," Fowler said after his 64 tied for the low round on Sunday. Not necessarily having my best, but being a lot of positives."

The effort in Japan helped Fowler rise seven spots to No 66 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but he still has work to do in order to qualify for marquee events outside of The Players next year.

"This one was great being back kind of in contention," Fowler said Sunday. "I was a little too far back, never got close enough."