Rickie Fowler reveals why he turned down big LIV money
Despite heavy rumours linking Rickie Fowler with the Saudi-backed LIV Tour, the popular American star stayed loyal to the PGA Tour.
Rickie Fowler pulled no punches when discussing why he opted out of a move to the lucrative LIV Golf League.
Fowler, 35, discussed the topic during episode two of Netflix's hit golf show Full Swing, which was centred on his efforts to win a maiden major at the 2023 U.S. Open.
The popular American had been linked with the Saudi-backed league on numerous occasions, but he revealed that his priority was always to play week to week against the best players in the world, and the place to do that was the PGA Tour.
The six-time PGA Tour winner told the show:
Earlier in the year, Fowler addressed rumours surrounding his future and a potential move to LIV when speaking to Golfweek and sighted the efforts of Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, and Patrick Cantlay as a key factor in his decision to remain on the PGA Tour.
He said:
While Fowler has never been openly critical of the LIV league, he recently highlighted that he believes if a merger were to happen between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour, there shouldn't be an easy route back to the American circuit for defectors.
His stance is shared by the likes of Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler but is at odds with former LIV critic Rory McIlroy, who went on record to claim it would be hard to punish those who want to return, having completed a complete U-turn on his thoughts regarding the breakaway league.
Discussing the idea of a return for LIV golfers, Fowler said:
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