Rickie Fowler benched all Ryder Cup Saturday as speculation mounts over health

Rickie Fowler is the only player who will play in two matches at the 2023 Ryder Cup after he was benched by United States captain Zach Johnson all of Saturday.

Speculation has mounted the past 24 hours that Fowler, 34, is not in the best of health.

In fact Johnson admitted head colds and congestion had spread around the team room this week, which had been a reason for their slow start to the 2023 Ryder Cup. 

While many consider Fowler was dropped for both the morning foursomes and afternoon fourballs on Saturday as a result of his health, NBC commentator Steve Sands confirmed today it was simply "a captain's decision."

#Breaking: Zach Johnson tells Steve Sands that Rickie Fowler’s health was not a factor in the decision to sit him this afternoon. #RyderCup | #GoRickie pic.twitter.com/ZUcHiAFYfq

— Rickie Fowler Updates (@GRickie23) September 30, 2023

Steve Sands reporting that Rickie Fowler sitting both sessions today is not due to illness but rather a Captain’s decision.

— Bob Weeks (@BobWeeksTSN) September 30, 2023

Fowler played alongside Collin Morikawa in the Friday Foursomes but they lost 2&1 to Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry. 

The American was then dropped for the Friday Fourballs later that afternoon. 

US Ryder Cup captain Johnson was asked specifically about Fowler's condition on Friday evening, to which he responded: 

Fowler will have to play in the Sunday Singles whether he likes it or not, so we will certainly see how he is feeling then. 

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