Rickie Fowler was born on this day in 1988. He was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008.
Fowler’s first PGA Tour event as a professional was the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where he finished tied for seventh. His second PGA Tour event was at the Frys.com Open played at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. He finished tied for second after losing to Troy Matteson in a threeway playoff that included Jamie Lovemark. Fowler’s score of 18 under par included a hole in one on the fifth hole in his final round. Fowler also notched an eagle in each of his four rounds.
In December 2009, Fowler successfully gained a 2010 PGA Tour card through qualifying school, finishing T15.
Fowler won the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 6, 2012, on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff. Replaying the 18th hole, he defeated Rory McIlroy and D. A. Points with a birdie to gain his first PGA Tour win. Fowler shot a 69 (−3) in the final round to finish in a three-way tie after 72 holes at Quail Hollow Club. This win enabled Fowler to break the top-25 in the world, placing him at number 24.
Fowler resides in Jupiter, Florida; he moved to Florida from Las Vegas when the 2010 season ended. Fowler’s middle name, Yutaka, comes from his maternal grandfather, who is Japanese.
On the final day of a golf tournament Fowler wears orange in honor of Oklahoma State University.
