This is a story of a Rickie, a new Rickie, on the public stage of life. Not an old and tired Rickie, Richie or Ricky, like Bobby, Nelson, Ricardo, Gervais, Williams, Henderson, Martin, Samboro, Havens or Stanzi but a modern, young, dashing, fresh, handsome, gifted, full of life Rickie. Rickie Fowler. Remember his name. You see, this "Rickie is a Rookie" on the PGA Golf Tour. And he is for real!
Rickie, 21, from Murrieta, California, down Riverside County way, is a professional golfer. And he can flat out play! Rickie's journey to the PGA Tour has been a bit... novel. He learned to play golf as a five year old from the guiding and loving hands of his adoring grandfather. In the living room of their modest suburban home between Orange County and San Diego, Rickie would pick up Grandpa's driver and try to swing the darn thing. Too big for a five year old one would think. Rickie, 5, over-compensated and adjusted. The club was too long and heavy; he was too short and slight, but by choking down and abbreviating his backswing, he developed speed in his swing so that the heavy head of the driver would catch up at the bottom of the swing. His gifted imagination even at that green age solved the big versus small dilemma. At 10 years old, he would tell his Grandpa, "Paps, I just see shots in my head." "Paps" was amazed.
From the living room, Rickie, graduated to the driving range. This is no country club kid. No blue blood advantages available here. Mom and Dad were and still are hardworking, honest and funloving folks. Rickie became a hardscrabble driving range rat who enjoyed pounding balls and perfecting the swing learned from the hip of Grandpa. He started playing in tournaments in SoCal before he was ten. Losing some, winning some while learning all the time. But something else was at play. His Dad, Rod, at about the same time, introduced Rickie to his passion, motocross dirt bike racing (aka how to have fun while die trying). Precocious Rickie took to motocross as he did golf. Golf and motocross seem like strange bedfellows to most but not to the Fowlers. For them, life is a smorgasbord to be enjoyed. Why spend too much time in front of the the salads when there are so many more wonderful dishes awaiting? Let's try it all is the Fowler mantra.
I know next to nothing about motocross. But, I do know what I see: it looks kinda fun but very dangerous. It's just a matter of time till the fun of motocross is diminished by it's inherent danger. After years of avoiding disaster, Rickie, had his Jesus moment at age 15, when his exposed body met terra firma at 40 miles per hour and broke several bones in a horrific crash. From then on, Family Fowler, said, "motocross is fun but golf won't kill ya." Wise family decision. Motocross remains in his veins but golf became Rickie's singular heartbeat. He dominated SoCal juniors at Murrietta High, received a full ride golf scholarship to the present day golf gladiator training school, Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He traded in the "Orange County-like" flavor for the fighting colors of the "Orange Cowboys" of OSU. Rickie dominated the collegiate ranks and received the coveted Ben Hogan College Golf Player of the Year...as a freshman. He was ranked the #1 US Amateur for 36 weeks from 2007-2008. Rickie went 4-0 in 2009 Walker Cup matches at Merion CC in Philadelphia for the triumphant United States team over the British Isles Team. In 2009, Rickie left OSU early and turned professional after the Walker Cup and on sponsors exemptions made over $500,000 in two months narrowly missing the #125 cut-off position for his 2010 PGA Tour playing priviledges. In December 2009, he earned his PGA card in the white knuckle Tour School qualifying tournament by finishing in 15th place. Whew...what a ride since the motocross accident (no pun intended) and this story is really just starting.
Last week at the PGA tour stop in San Diego at Torrey Pines, Rickie finished tied for third at -10 and $180,000 plus richer. On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, Ricky at 21, was in the hunt for the first time this year. On the 71st hole, the difficult 17th hole par 4 with the sucker pin tucked back right, Rickie, with an indominatable motocross fearlessness, went at that flag. They call it a sucker pin for a reason. His ball floated slightly to the right and landed in heavy wet rye rough... pin high but grass low and gnarly. Minutes later, he left the green with a double bogey, 6. But dirt, blood and pain don't last long on Rickie. Motocross guys seem to have short memory for previous misfortune. The final hole Rickie birdied from 3 feet. Ben Crane, the eventual winner, parred the last hole for -12 for the tournament. If Rickie doesn't double bogey the 17th hole, he ties for first and playoff ...and if I had boobies I'd be my sister.
With the West Coast PGA Tour swing at full throttle for the next two weeks at Riviera and Pebble Beach, watch for this new kid on the block. Rickie, of small stature for a professional athlete with a body-type more suitable for an In and Out Burger associate, will be the one with the non-traditional look: wearing an oversized painters cap with the Puma logo, with wavy cascading Buster Brown hair and electric fashion colors including the belt. What you may not see right away is a young man in a hurry who has the skills to get what he wants. At first blush, he will seem edgy and cocky. A unique blend of James Dean, Elvis and Arnie. To be sure, Rickie is an acquired taste. Give this kid a chance though to wow you like he did me when I first saw him at the Calloway in November at Pebble. He placed second to wily ole Pebble veteran, Texan Mark Brooks. Rickie is fearless, fast, creative, powerful, fun to watch, low key, approachable and talented. He has "it." He is one "very cool little guy", as fellow PGA pro and free spirit, Will MacKenzie quipped.
May the force be with you my little friend, Rickie. I'll see you and Joe, his boyhood friend, caddy and budding fashionista, in Pebble and not just for the ATT in February but for The Open in June. I'll be watching and I hope you all do to.
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