PGA Tour fan-favourite Rickie Fowler open to Ryder Cup vice-captaincy role

Rickie Fowler admitted it was news to him he is being considered for a Ryder Cup vice-captaincy role. 

Fowler was named as one of Zach Johnson's wildcards the last time the biennial matches were played in Italy two years ago. 

An illness bug prevented Fowler, now 36, from having the impact he desired on the contest and the golfer lost the two matches he played in the 16½ - 11½ defeat at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. 

There is no doubt the PGA Tour fan-favourite will harbour hopes he can do enough between now and August to warrant inclusion at Bethpage Black so he can right those wrongs. 

US skipper Keegan Bradley still hasn't named his final vice captain yet but there has been chatter the 39-year-old could approach Fowler or even Jordan Spieth. 

Fowler was asked about the situation ahead of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run. 

He didn't pour cold water on the idea. 

"I haven't heard anything on that," Fowler said. "Obviously I've loved all the team events I've been on and been a part of.

"We'll deal with that if it comes to that. I'm obviously happy to help out, but I know Keegan is working on trying to make his own team. 

"He's got some great guys at his side helping out."

Fowler was referencing Brandt Snedeker, Kevin Kisner, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson. 

"If they want me there, I would hope scheduling and everything would work out," Fowler added. 

"It would be fun to be a part of. We'll deal with that when it gets to it."

Bradley, meanwhile, has finally confirmed he is strongly considering being a playing captain in September. 

The golfer said he was open to a dual role after he sealed a dramatic one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood at the Travelers Championship. 

His victory moved him to seventh in the world rankings and ninth in the US Ryder Cup standings. 

The top six qualify for the team outright. 

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the only players who have qualified for their respective teams. 

Bradley insisted he would never pick himself should he finish outside the automatic spots but all that has changed. 

"This definitely opens the door to play," he said. "I don't know if I'm going to do it or not but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what's best for the team.

"Every year I was out here, I wanted to play on the Ryder Cup team, and then this would be the first year where maybe I didn't want to. I just wanted to be the captain and, of course, this is what happens."

Fowler gives verdict on controversial PGA Tour topic

There has been lots of debate this year if the PGA Tour's signature events are working. 

The aforementioned Travelers Championship was the final signature event of 2025. 

The tournaments were created in response to LIV Golf and offer massive prize purses and increased FedEx Cup points. 

Masters champion McIlroy believes the signature events are working despite grumbles from other players about lack of playing opportunities. 

Fowler thinks the sample size is too small to offer a full verdict.

"The signature events have only been around for a couple years," he said. 

"You're seeing guys playing more, what the events mean, what points mean until everything kind of settles or there is maybe an adjustment or change in how many events and what events are worth as far as having Signature, regular, and opposite fields.

"So we'll see where that goes. Yeah, the current state, you know, you are seeing, if you're looking at event structure, there is, I don't want to say standard, but there is elevated, normal PGA Tour events, and then opposite fields.

"The normal events seem to be getting a little bit stronger field just with guys playing maybe a little bit more and where things fit in the schedule.

"And then it's tough. I think it has forced guys to maybe play some more.

"So that's the current state. Like I said, kind of a small sample size. 

"It'll be interesting to see what changes or adjustments are made going forward and where the schedule of the Tour may look in five or ten years from now."