Rickie Fowler Didn't Qualify For The Masters So He Watched Them Over At Tiger Woods' House

Mike Ehrmann. Getty Images.

Golfweek - Rickie Fowler didn’t earn an invitation to the Masters this year, his prolonged struggles inside the ropes leading to his absence from Augusta National for the first time in 11 years.

But he didn’t miss the Masters altogether…..

“I did go over and watch a little bit with Tiger, so it was fun to be able to do that, talk about the course. We were watching and saw just how firm and fast and kind of such a fine line how Augusta can be. We were definitely both very disappointed that we couldn’t be out there to experience it because it’s very few times where you do get to see Augusta that firm and fast.”

Fowler said Woods was in good spirits. Justin Thomas had been over to Woods’ palatial estate a few times and told Fowler that Woods was doing fine.

“He’s like, honestly, he was a lot better than I expected,” Fowler said. “So that was good to hear. Then to get over there and see him getting around, and now you guys have seen some pictures that he’s posted and he’s out and about a little bit, he was in good spirits. Because early on it was more him having to keep his leg up for inflammation, couldn’t be walking around on crutches that much, although I’m sure he wanted to because he didn’t want to just be laid up.

“It was good to see him. Hung out and spent some time with (Woods’ son) Charlie, and (daughter) Sam was there for a little bit before she had to go to soccer practice. I think his main focus and concern is getting back to being a dad, go play golf with Charlie, push him around, and be able to run around with Sam. But his golf clubs are right there in the living room and he can stare at them all he wants.”

Man, what a pair of guys down on their luck for completely different reasons. Rickie, a guy who has completely lost his game over the past year and cratered his way out of the World top 100, and of course Tiger… with the well documented crash and shattered leg. Just two dudes leaning on each other knowing exactly what they're missing. Chatting about firm and fast Augusta greens til the cows come home. There was a lot of speculation about what these guys were up to during Masters week, including a bit of a low blow by Nick Faldo on Rickie…

Now we have our answer. They were going thru it, together.

Of course any time one of these types of stories comes out the past few months (or ever, really), there's always this need to read between the lines on how Tiger's doing and what kind of condition he's in. It feels like everybody and their mother on Tour has visited him or talked to him at some point and shed a little bit of light on where he's at. You've got JT dishing stories at THE PLAYERS about talking trash with him, Rory going on about how Tiger has no idea where his non-major trophies are, Rickie kickin it with him during golf's biggest weekend… and by all accounts it sounds like his spirits are relatively high and things are trending up. I'm sure these guys that revere Tiger and bowed at his feet growing up wouldn't say anything to paint a picture otherwise, but it truly sounds like things are going to be okay in the Tiger Woods camp. There seems to be real, genuine hope that he'll be back on his feet resuming a normal life. That's awesome news.

And better yet… as if anyone would expect anything less… he's still got that fire. 

Always has, always will. Long road ahead, but look forward to seeing Tiger AND Rickie back out there competing at the high level they're both capable of. Can't wait.