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Rickie Fowler says he has yet to decide whether or not to take up the offer of a spot on the new LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Speaking ahead of this week’s US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the 33-year-old confirmed that he has been approached to join Greg Norman’s controversial new Saudi-backed venture.

“To be straightforward with you guys, I haven’t necessarily made a decision one way or the other,” said Fowler. “I’ve mentioned in the past, do I currently think that the PGA Tour is the best place to play? I do. Do I think it can be better? Yes.

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“Obviously, there’s the LIV and Premier [Golf League] as well. These tours or leagues or however you want to classify or call them, they wouldn’t really be coming up if they didn’t see that there was more opportunity out there.

“I’ve always looked at competition being a good thing. It’s the driving force of our game. Being able to have games with guys at home, that’s how I always grew up is competing. I think competition ultimately makes people better, whether it’s business, sport. So it’s interesting, that’s for sure.”

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the PGA Tour last week declined all release requests from member players looking to contest the first of the new LIV Series events at the Centurion Club in England next month.

Fowler, a five-time winner on the tour, believes that the powers-that-be should explain to players what the consequences of playing in that event without a release would be.

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“I feel like there needs to be some clarity between if you’re an independent contractor or are you basically an employee,” he added. “I know there’s some guys that are probably in a position where the consequence may not matter. They may just be ready to go play and not look back type of thing and see how things come full circle.

“Like I said, it’s an interesting time.”


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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