Listen to the Players: Rickie Fowler joins Finau, McIlroy, and JT in calling for more PGA TOUR stops in the Northeast

FLOURTOWN, PA — Philly didn’t need the validation—but they’ll take it. After Tony Finau, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas pledged support for more PGA TOUR events in the Northeast, Rickie Fowler joined them following a T15 finish at the 2025 Truist Championship.

Rickie Fowler from DEEP on Sunday for Eagle (Go Birds)

Rickie Fowler FINALLY gets one to drop.#TruistChampionship pic.twitter.com/DLmCPd10du

— Better Rounds (@BetterRoundsGC) May 11, 2025

Sepp Straka steals the spotlight in Philly, outduels JT and Lowry to win the Truist Championship

After a massive week at the Truist Championship, the PGA TOUR’s best players are sending a loud and clear message straight to Ponte Vedra: Stop ghosting the Northeast. Give Philly and the region the respect it deserves.

Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas all said what golf fans in the Northeast have been screaming for years—bring more TOUR events to golf’s most historic, passionate, and underrated region.

And after what we saw this week at Philadelphia Cricket Club? It’s obvious. The players get it. The fans get it. The question is—does the PGA TOUR get it?

Rickie Fowler: “Philly Shouldn’t Take This for Granted.”

After battling it out on the Wissahickon Course this week, Rickie Fowler sounded like a guy who doesn’t want this to be a one-and-done.

Speaking with John Clark, Rickie Fowler said it was refreshing to play Northeast golf with an old-school golf course. He added that Philadelphia Cricket Club is a special place and Philly should not take it for granted.

Rickie Fowler and other players would like to see a Philly area stop every year.

Rickie Fowler says it was refreshing to play Northeast golf with an old-school golf course. He says Philadelphia Cricket Club is a special place and Philly should not take it for granted. The golfers would like to see a Philly area stop every year. pic.twitter.com/ydzQOPYE3c

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 11, 2025

“It was refreshing to play Northeast golf on an old-school golf course. Philly Cricket is a special place and this city shouldn’t take it for granted. I’d love to see a Philly area stop every year.”

Preach, Rickie.

Tony Finau: “Some of the Best Golf in the World”

Tony Finau, who fired a Saturday 67 to jump into a T6 alongside Rory, doubled down, giving the Northeast the respect it rarely gets from the PGA TOUR schedule-makers:

“Within 100 to 150-mile radius of this place, I think there’s some of the best golf in the world.”

Finau gets it. And after watching the crowds, the energy, and the classic vibes this week? You can’t argue with him.

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Tony Finau joins Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas in demanding PGA TOUR ignorance of Northeast to finally come to an end >>

Rory McIlroy: “We Don’t Play Enough Tournaments in the Northeast.”

If Rory McIlroy is saying it, you better listen. The defending Truist champ and honorary Philadelphian flat-out called the TOUR’s neglect of the Northeast what it is: unacceptable.

“Philly is one of the best places in the U.S. for golf… I feel like we don’t play enough tournaments in the Northeast.”

This is coming from a guy who’s ready to light it up at Quail Hollow next week and who always speaks his mind on TOUR scheduling. McIlroy wants more Northeast events, and he’s not shy about it.

Rory McIlroy grinds out Top-10 at Truist Championship, eyes Quail Hollow return with confidence

JT: “There’s a Different Look and Feel Up Here”

And then there’s Justin Thomas, who contended all week and finished T2 at Truist. JT was as blunt as ever:

“It’s spectacular… There’s just a different look and feel to golf up here—it’s got this old-school charm, the kind of stuff you don’t get in a lot of places.”

Translation? This is the kind of golf that makes guys like JT show up with their best stuff and it deserves a bigger seat at the table.

Justin Thomas Keeps Knockin’: Truist runner-up has JT trending for Quail Hollow and PGA Championship

Time for the PGA TOUR to Wake Up

Let’s call it what it is—the PGA TOUR has ignored the Northeast outside of majors for way too long, and it’s gotten embarrassing. Philly hasn’t seen a proper TOUR event since the 2018 BMW at Aronimink. Boston? Forgotten. Jersey? MIA. New York? Crickets.

Meanwhile, the region is home to the sport’s holy grounds—Merion, Aronimink, Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Oak Hill, Shinnecock—yet the best players only show up once a decade when the USGA or PGA of America invites them.

It’s Time: The PGA TOUR needs to give the Northeast the love it deserves

The Truist Championship just proved the Northeast is starving for more.

The players feel it, too. The vibe at Philly Cricket? Chef’s kiss. The crowds? Massive. The course? Old-school, mean, and perfect. This cannot be a one-off.

What’s the Hold-Up, PGA TOUR?

Look, the players want it. The fans demand it. The courses are ready. What’s the TOUR waiting for? Bring back TPC Boston. Give Aronimink a Signature Event. Let Merion host something before we all have grandkids.

The Northeast doesn’t just deserve more PGA TOUR golf—it’s owed it. The question is… will the PGA TOUR finally listen? We’ll see. But the players have spoken. Loud and clear.

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