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Why Rickie Fowler wasn’t picked for the Hero World Challenge by Tiger Woods

Originally posted on HITC | By Antony Martin | Last updated Nov 1, 2025 12:24 PM ET

Rickie Fowler won’t be teeing it up at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge this December.

With Woods overlooking him for one of the three special exemptions, Fowler might not return to competitive action until late January. Since February 2019, he has only managed a single PGA Tour win.

The 36-year-old from Murrieta, California, showed glimpses last season that he was starting to look more like his old self.

But consistency was still an issue, and it kept him from seriously challenging in any tournaments. It’s hard to argue against his omission from the Albany Golf Club field next month.

Jordan Spieth was one of the players invited to the Hero World Challenge. Akshay Bhatia and Billy Horschel also received invites.

Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

Why Tiger Woods didn’t include Rickie Fowler in the Hero World Challenge

There’s now a bit more clarity on why Fowler won’t be part of the Hero World Challenge in December.

It appears that it wasn’t so much a decision by Woods as it was down to Fowler’s position in the rankings at the time invitations were sent out.

Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig shared some details about how the field was put together.

“A lot of angst over this but Fowler wasn’t eligible. The three sponsor invites Spieth, Horschel and Bhatia all Top 50 OWGR when qualification period ended after Tour Champ. The rest of the field determined by major winners and going down OWGR list to invite.”

A lot of angst over this but Fowler wasn’t eligible. The three sponsor invites Spieth, Horschel and Bhatia all Top 50 OWGR when qualification period ended after Tour Champ. The rest of the field determined by major winners and going down OWGR list to invite https://t.co/fh5qQgFUSA
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) October 31, 2025

Sitting at 80th in the Official World Golf Rankings, there were plenty of players ahead of him when it came time to fill out the field for Tiger’s event.

Hero World Challenge field in full

The complete lineup for the Hero World Challenge in December has been confirmed. Here’s a look at everyone set to compete:

Player name	Current world ranking
Scottie Scheffler	1
J.J. Spaun	6
Robert MacIntyre	7
Justin Thomas	8
Justin Rose	9
Harris English	13
Keegan Bradley	14
Sepp Straka	15
Alex Noren	17
Hideki Matsuyama	18
Cameron Young	19
Sam Burns	24
Chris Gotterup	26
Corey Conners	27
Brian Harman	32
Wyndham Clark	33
Andrew Novak	35
*Akshay Bhatia	38
*Billy Horschel	40
*Jordan Spieth	62