Injured American Fowler practicing again as Ryder Cup looms

[August 30, 2018]    (Reuters) - American golfer Rickie Fowler started practicing again on Wednesday, which is likely to dispel any suggestion an oblique muscle tear will keep him out of for next month's Ryder Cup.

Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Bellerive Country Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Fowler, who used Instagram to say he had returned to practice, is skipping the first two events in the FedExCup playoffs on the PGA Tour to rest the injury ahead of next month's Ryder Cup in Paris.

"First day back on the course in 17 days ... there has been a lot of rest and rehab ... it felt good to be back out with the boys!" he wrote accompanying a video that showed him making a smooth swing with an iron.

World number eight Fowler pulled out of last week's Northern Trust tournament and this week's Dell Technologies Championship to give the injury a chance to heal.

Fowler revealed he was suffering from the injury before the PGA Championship, where he finished tied for 12th.

An MRI later diagnosed a partial tear to the oblique muscle on the right side of his abdomen.

Fowler's next chance to play will be at the BMW Championship outside Philadelphia next week.

The Ryder Cup will be played from Sept. 28-30.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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