Rickie Fowler Gets Second Sponsor Exemption for 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open

PHOENIX, Ariz. – 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman David Rauch announced today that Rickie Fowler will receive the second sponsor exemption for the 2010 Waste Management Phoenix Open.  Billy Mayfair received the first tournament exemption in December. Rauch and the tournament host Thunderbirds will hand out a total of eight sponsor exemptions for the tournament, scheduled to be played at the TPC Scottsdale, February 22 – 28.  

“Rickie Fowler is a 21 year-old golf phenom who burst onto the PGA TOUR last year and almost won his second start,” said Rauch. “He played in our event last year under an exemption as an amateur and finished T58. We are all excited for his return and look forward to his first Waste Management Phoenix Open as a professional.”

Fowler, a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State University, turned pro late last year after leading the U.S. Walker Cup team to victory with his unblemished 4-0 record.  He was the first freshman to win the Ben Hogan Award given annually to the top men’s NCAA golfer. He was also named to the Ping All-America First Team and Golfweek’s All-America team during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Oklahoma State. 

In 2009, Fowler earned $571,090 in just three starts. Fowler placed T7 in his first start at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, T2 at the Frys.com Open and T40 at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Finishing just outside the Top 125 on the 2009 PGA TOUR money list, Fowler played in the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament where he tied for 15th and earned his card for the 2010 season – officially his first full year on TOUR as a professional.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open will be played February 22 – 28, 2010, at the TPC Scottsdale. The tournament host Thunderbirds have raised more than $65.9 million for charities, with more than $37.9 million generated since 2004. The 2010 edition will mark the 75th playing of the event, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR (not including the major championships). Title sponsor Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. For more information on Waste Management visit wm.com or thinkgreen.com. For more information on the Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit wmphoenixopen.com.

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