SCOTTSDALE (Ariz.) — Nothing could be better than Saturday’s 14th tee.
Fowler’s driver meeting with golf ball served as a starting point for the thousands of fans who adorn the hill that overlooks Scottsdale Road. Although these may be far from TPC Scottsdale’s main entrance, Fowler is always there. As his ball flew through the air, the hollers rose. One fan screamed, “Let’em hang Rickie!” A three-word rhyme that was not suitable for printing was the more popular refrain. If that helps, it starts with Big and ends at Rick.
This is rare air on the PGA Tour. Rarely do golfers have cult followings. The Thunderbirds could allow 120 of the 134 participants to walk the grounds on Sunday, but it would not earn more than a sideways murmur among the most avid golfers.
Rickie? Rickie is another.
The organizers of the Phoenix Open, the Thunderbirds, were among the first ones to acknowledge this. Fowler was an amateur at Oklahoma State in 2009. They invited him to the tournament as an exemption entry. They could see his talent. They could also see his unique appeal.
During the third round at TPC Scottsdale’s 2023 WM Phoenix Open, Rickie Fowler finds his way to the 12th tee. (Photo: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports)
All of this culminated in 2014. Fowler was in the top five at all four majors. Fowler was golf’s next star and had the swagger of a superstar. His Sunday look made orange the preferred color for golf and Puma the choice of outfitting at munis all across the country.
All this brings us back Saturday at the 14th green. Fans can still enjoy the Fowler 2014!
However, the thin green ropes on a golf course can be a strange way to separate vision from reality. It was so on 14. Fowler was enthralled by the cheers of his fans. Fowler then knelt down to beg a lost ball to return to the fairway. The same happened on 15 where fans cheered as Fowler watched his drive disappear into the desert brush. The crowd rose once again when Fowler attempted to play the par five’s green in just two. He was aiming for the middle clearing of the V-shaped tree. They were disappointed with the results. Fowler’s ball was found water.
This is Rickie Fowler’s late experience.
He has been a wanderer in the golf world since his win at 2019 Phoenix Open. His stats over the past three seasons were: 60 events, no wins; four top 10s; 24 missed cuts. He finished 94th in the FedEx Cup standings and 134th in 133rd.
Fowler stated last year that “it’s been a difficult couple of years trying hard to get through it all and make some changes so that I feel more comfortable”
That was evident Saturday. Fowler’s difficulties off the tee weren’t a mirage. Fowler found only six fairways out of fourteen and was, in his own words, “just managing our ways around.”
However, this is only a small part of the story. These holes will be available on Saturday’s back 9.
Rickie Fowler’s absolute beauty. pic.twitter.com/8kJoR2F2yO
Golf on CBS – February 11, 2023 (@GolfonCBS).
Fowler set up a par of two putts on 14 when he got to the left rough fringe. He pitched to just four feet from the dropzone on 15 Crisis avoided: par. He drained another 13-footer to save par after finding water on the 17th tee.
Fowler stated, “Did an amazing job managing and scoring and keeping things moving forward.”
So things moved to 18 with Fowler taking up a position he rarely has in the past four years. An electronic scoreboard indicated Fowler was within the top 10 at 8 over for the week. The leaders were visible to the fans, who stood at attention and waited in their seats to see them arrive minutes later. Fowler’s element.
He pulled out a sand shovel from 121 yards and gave the day’s main course.
It was there with just one bounce and then two more. Fowler’s ball landed just inches from the hole. Fowler pumped his arms and waved the crowd in a guttural roar before his tap-in birdie moved to 9 under.
Fowler stated, “It’s great to play with the fans here when you can.” “I felt quite confident from there, and I had that one under my control. It’s my goal to get fans involved and ensure they have a great time.
These moments have been missing for four years. They have been missed by golf. Fowler also has missed them.
Fowler stated, “Really, the last few years haven’t been in that position a lot.” It never gets old. It’s not really anything new. It’s been done before. It’s okay to just have fun and enjoy the experience.
Fowler disproved the idea that Fowler’s struggles have changed anything fundamentally about the experience of being in contention. It is still a joy to walk off 18, just four strokes ago, with Sunday’s meaningful tournament looming.
This Rickie Fowler is different. He is now an older statesman from the Tour’s youth movement, with wrinkles. He’s lost the skater boy hair that used pop out of his golf cap. After Saturday’s news conference, he was chatting with a reporter. His eyes lit up when he saw his 1-year-old daughter Maya waddling towards him and calling for his dada. He played with Maya on the patio next to the TPC Scottsdale clubhouse.
Their father-daughter dance was familiar. A few people had seen him from beyond the media podium and utility golf carts. The chants went “Ric-kie Ric-kie.”
Rickie Fowler Experience, Meet Rickie Fowler
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By: Theo Mackie
Title: At 2023 WM Phoenix Open, Rickie Fowler's return to contention feels right
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/02/12/2023-wm-phoenix-open-rickie-fowler-return-to-contention-feels-right/
Published Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2023 12:00:59 +0000
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