Missed cut keeps Rickie Fowler out of FedEx Cup playoffs

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[August 14, 2021]    Rickie Fowler will be on the outside looking in at the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in his 12-year professional career.

 


At the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., the PGA Tour's regular-season finale, Fowler shot a 2-over-par 72 in his second round Friday morning to drop to 3-over 143 and missed the cut by six strokes.

A fan favorite, Fowler has been mired in a slump and entered the week No. 130 in the FedEx Cup points standings. He needed a strong performance at Sedgefield Country Club to get inside the top 125 and qualify for the playoffs, which begin next week at the Northern Trust in Jersey City, N.J.

"Yeah, it sucks," Fowler said. "I mean, I know what I'm capable of, I've been up there and played against the best in the world and been a top-five, top-10 player in the world for a number of years in my career. I'm not in a position where I'm comfortable or where I want to be.

"Like I said, with the season ending now for me, it's kind of just added motivation. 'Hey, let's figure out what we need to go do and let's go do it.'"

Fowler made two birdies and four bogeys Friday, including a string of three straight holes in which he did not reach the green in regulation and then two-putted.

"Yeah, it's a bummer and I don't want to be in this position," Fowler said. "Never been here. I'm used to being in contention, ready to go to East Lake (for the Tour Championship) and go have some fun through the playoffs. That's not the case this year. A little kick in the butt. Go home and get ready to go."

Fowler is not at risk of losing his PGA Tour card because his victory at the 2015 Players Championship earned him a five-year exemption, with additional years added on for every subsequent win.

However, he hasn't won a tournament since February 2019. Fowler's best finish this season was a tie for eighth at the PGA Championship, a major he qualified for only due to a special exemption. The Wyndham Championship was his ninth missed cut in 24 starts.

Other players in contention in Greensboro will benefit from Fowler's missed cut.

Chief among them is Justin Rose, the Englishman who won the FedEx Cup in 2018. Rose came to the Wyndham Championship at No. 138 in points, needing to finish 10th or better to make the playoff field. Rounds of 66 and 65 have him tied for fifth at 9 under, five back of leader Russell Henley.

"Objective number one is to make it to the playoffs, but two, if you're playing well this week -- I know I need to finish top 10, but at the same time, there's no point limiting yourself to that kind of thinking at this point," Rose said. "You know, winning would go a long way to kind of feel like you can compete in the playoffs. Listen, that's all way ahead of me, but tomorrow just kind of keep doing what I'm doing."

Rose's countryman, Tommy Fleetwood, No. 35 in the world rankings but No. 136 in the FedEx Cup, shot a 68 to move to 6 under through two rounds, tied for 23rd. He is projected to finish 133rd based on his current standing.

Fleetwood does not have his PGA Tour card guaranteed for next year but could choose to play on the European Tour full-time.

Australian Adam Scott posted a 70 on Friday to stay at 4 under for the tournament. Scott entered the week at No. 121 in the standings and projects to slip to No. 124 if he finishes in his current place, tied for 41st.

The No. 125 player in the standings entering the week, Bo Hoag, double-bogeyed his third-to-last hole and missed the 3-under cut line by one shot, all but dooming himself to drop out of the playoff field.

--Field Level Media

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