Rickie Fowler Faces Off with Rules Officials at Colonial Country Club

Fort Worth, Texas – Rickie Fowler found himself in a lighthearted debate with PGA Tour rules officials on Thursday during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club. After his tee shot veered right and landed precariously close to an out-of-bounds fence, Fowler questioned whether he could take a relief shot.

As he waited for a second rules official, Fowler joked, “Does the PGA Tour award style strokes? So if I hit and pull it off, do I get like a shot off?” This humorous comment offered some levity amid the serious discussion about his next move.

Fowler’s ball rested near a boundary fence topped with barbed wire, prompting a conversation with rules official Pete Dachisen. From the dirt cart path near his ball, Fowler insisted he would attempt the shot despite the potential obstacles. “I would be standing on it at address,” he stated, determined to play through the situation.

Dachisen, however, deemed the play unreasonable, given the proximity of the fence, and suggested that Fowler would not receive a drop. Robby Ware, the second rules official called to provide another opinion, emphasized the difficulty of the shot because of the fence’s location.

Fowler’s caddie, Ricky Romano, interjected, expressing that if Fowler was to hit the shot while standing on the path, he should be eligible for relief. Yet, both officials maintained that a safe shot was not evident. “If the path’s not here, would you take that shot on?” Ware asked. Fowler candidly replied, “I’m going to right now just because the other options aren’t great.”

After the discussion, Fowler opted to play the ball as it lay. He managed to direct the shot through the trees and into the rough, ultimately finishing that hole with a bogey five and concluding his first round with an even-par 70.

A PGA Tour Live announcer praised the attempt as “an amazing shot,” highlighting the skill displayed under pressure. Rich Pierson, the PGA Tour’s director of TV rules, later clarified the officials’ reasoning, noting the challenges posed by the fence and out-of-bounds area.

As he walked to the next hole, Fowler lightened the mood once again by joking, “I didn’t touch the fence,” showcasing his ability to maintain a sense of humor amid the competitive stakes.