Six-time PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler made the 36-hole cut at the WM Phoenix Open after two rounds at TPC Scottsdale, sitting at 3-under par (T35) heading into the weekend.

Post–WM Phoenix Open, in quick quotes shared by ASAP Sports on Feb. 6, Rickie Fowler addressed which shoulder was affected by the injury.

The American golfer went on to outline how the issue progressed during the season

“At times it would flare up, stay irritated for a few days, and then go away. Going into this season, or late last season, it flared up again, got worse, and didn’t go away. I had to keep going, manage it, and find a way to play through it. After that, I was able to take some time and work on getting it to calm down.”

Rickie Fowler said the injury involved his left shoulder, an issue he has managed since high school. He explained that he has a couple of SLAP tears, which commonly result from the swinging motion and allow him to continue playing as needed.

During the 2025 season, Fowler managed shoulder issues while continuing to compete. Following the season, he focused on rest and rehabilitation during the 2025 offseason, which allowed him to begin 2026 without the use of pain medication. 

By January 2026, Fowler indicated he felt physically ready for the new season, a position reflected in his early results. He carded a 63 on the second day of the American Express.

The discussion later shifted to whether treatment was limited to rehabilitation rather than surgery.

Rickie Fowler on managing the injury without surgery

When asked about his treatment approach, Rickie Fowler said:

“No surgery. I had injections to address the inflammation and bursitis. It still doesn’t feel great, but during the swing, I’m fine. I’m not taking anything to take the edge off.”

Rickie Fowler said he dealt with bursitis, fluid buildup, and inflammation, which caused discomfort throughout last season and required pain medication. 

He explained that he underwent PRP injections in September and spent about six weeks away from swinging a club. 

Speaking to the media Friday at the WM Phoenix Open, Fowler reasserted the focus of his recovery has been reaching a point where he no longer needs Advil or similar medication to manage the discomfort.

While he recovers, give us a follow!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Joyita Das