Rickie Fowler

Born:  December 13, 1988

Birthplace: Murietta, California

Height: 5 ft 9 in

College:  Oklahoma State University

Turned Pro: 2009

Sponsors:  Puma, Titleist, Rolex, Quicken Loans

 
A marketer’s dream with his All-American good looks and bright clothing, Rickie Fowler proved he had the game to match the image in 2014 when he finished in the top 5 of all 4 Major Championships, including runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open and the Open Championship. 
 
Still, the doubters persisted.  An anonymous poll of PGA players listed Fowler as one of the most “overrated” players in the spring of 2015.  Fowler responded by winning the Tournament Players Championship at Sawgrass, Florida in dramatic fashion.
 
Fowler was a standout golfer at Oklahoma State University.  He turned pro in late 2009 and in his first two starts, on the PGA Tour, he finished tied for 7th and tied for 2nd.  In December of that year he secured his full-time PGA card by finishing 15th at the qualifying school tournament. 
 
Fowler played well on his rookie season, finishing 2nd at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and 2nd at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament.  He entered the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ratings and became the youngest U.S. player in Ryder Cup history.  At the end of the year, he was named PGA Rookie of the Year for 2010.
 
Fowler continued to play well, but not win, over the next year and a half.  In May 2012, he won the Wells Fargo Championship for his first PGA Tour victory.  He sealed the win with a birdie on the first hole of sudden death against Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points. 
 
Fowler’s performance in the 2014 Majors marked only the third time a player has placed in the top five of all four tournaments.  Fowler joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in accomplishing this feat.
 
After a tie for 12th at the Masters, Fowler took on the traditionally strong field at TPC.  Fowler was in contention the last two rounds but needed to play the final six holes in six under par to get in a playoff with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner.  Still tied with Kisner after the three-hole playoff, Fowler won on the first hole of sudden death.