Tour News
Exclusive: Rickie Fowler opens up about injuries, tattoos and nerves
Say what you will about Rickie Fowler, but there’s no denying the 27-year-old is one of the best golfers on the planet, and probably the most popular.
Sure, Fowler doesn’t have the resume of Jason Day, Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy, but that doesn’t mean his accolades aren’t impressive. He’s currently the No. 5-ranked golfer in the world, and his victories at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, 2015 Players Championship and the 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship indicate that his game is only getting better with age.
This month, Red Bulletin is publishing an in-depth look at all things Fowler, and has given GolfWRX an exclusive on a portion of the Q&A. Enjoy it below.
The Red Bulletin: You make pro golf look like fun.
Rickie Fowler: It’s not an act. I’ve got a different background from almost any golfer out there—you don’t see many guys coming from action sports into golf, but coming out of supercross, the stadium life, I like to push the limits. I like noise. That’s why I love the tournament in Phoenix. That’s a loud golf tournament. Coming down the stretch with this huge rowdy crowd yelling their heads off—to me, that’s a good time.
Golf’s a lot safer than bike racing.
True. When I was 15 I went riding with some guys in the desert. We set up a makeshift track and took off. They came over the backside of a jump and I didn’t see them till we were all in the air. At that point I ditch my bike so it won’t hit them, but I’m still moving pretty good when we crash, and it’s like hitting a wall. Broke my foot in three places and my knee blew up like a balloon.
Is that why you switched to golf?
No, but it sped up the decision.
Compared to that, golf’s a walk in the park.
In golf you get repetition stress. In 2012 and ’13, I got stress fractures in my backbone thanks to my golf swing. I had to tone down the violent change of direction at the top of my swing. There’s little stuff, too. A paper cut on your fingertip can throw you off all day. Pro golfers swing so hard, we get splits in the skin on our hands, like open sores. I’ve used Super Glue on those. You glue your hand up and play.
Your heritage is as different as your driving-range background.
Yeah, my grandpa’s Japanese. His name’s Yutaka Tanaka—I’ve got it tattooed on my arm. And my grandmother’s Navajo. I was raised with both cultures, with a sort of common-sense approach that has to do with being positive. Treating people the way you want to be treated. Don’t talk bad about people or wish bad things on them. Try to live happy. That can be tough when you’re playing professional golf, where most guys don’t win even once a year, but I’m working on it.
In early February at Phoenix, you were leading by two shots with two holes to play. Your whole family was there, your dad and grandpa walking down the fairway with you. Then you hit two balls in a pond. What did you learn? Do you think it was nerves?
Any golfer who says he doesn’t get nervous is lying. But I don’t get scared. I did a study for Red Bull a few years ago, me and some amateur players. They hooked us up to monitors, and the amateurs’ pulse went up before they hit a shot. They were nervous. My heart rate stayed constant, and then spiked after I hit the ball. That adrenaline rush when the ball’s in the air and you’re waiting to see how it lands, that’s a cool feeling.
Talk about what’s on tap this year.
It’s a huge year for golf! We’ve got the majors, the Olympics and the Ryder Cup. I’ve been on two Ryder Cup teams, so I’ve played for my country. That’s a different sort of golf. And the Olympics—there hasn’t been golf in the Olympics for 100 years. How cool would it be to win a gold medal and hear the national anthem? I’ve been close in the majors. Winning one, that’s the next step for me. It’s a real, true, attainable goal, and hopefully I won’t stop at one.
You’ve toned down the outfits. Is that a conscious decision or is it you growing up and getting older?
It’s a little bit of growing up. I don’t want to go too crazy out there. I definitely want my golf game to speak more than whatever it is I might be wearing. I feel like we’ve still got a bit of fun with the clothing, like the tribute to Payne Stewart, wearing the knickers at the U.S. Open last year. I try to keep it fun in a way, but I don’t want people to know what I’m going to be wearing. I don’t want them to expect a certain thing. I want to keep them guessing a bit.
For more, visit RedBulletin.com.
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News
Photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
GolfWRX is live this week at the Wells Fargo Championship as a field of the world’s best golfers descend upon Charlotte, North Carolina, hoping to tame the beast that is Quail Hollow Club in this Signature Event — only Scottie Scheffler, who is home awaiting the birth of his first child, is absent.
From the grounds at Quail Hollow, we have our usual assortment of general galleries and WITBs — including a look at left-hander Akshay Bhatia’s setup. Among the pullout albums, we have a look inside Cobra’s impressive new tour truck for you to check out. Also featured is a special look at Quail Hollow king, Rory McIlroy.
Be sure to check back throughout the week as we add more galleries.
General Albums
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Monday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Wells Fargo Championship – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Akshay Bhatia – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matthieu Pavon – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Keegan Bradley – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Webb Simpson – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Emiliano Grillo – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Taylor Pendrith – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Kevin Tway – WITB – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
Pullout Albums
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rory McIlroy – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- New Cobra equipment truck – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Eric Cole’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Custom Cameron putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Matt Kuchar’s custom Bettinardi – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Justin Thomas – driver change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler – putter change – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Rickie Fowler’s new custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Tommy Fleetwood testing a TaylorMade Spider Tour X (with custom neck) – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- Cobra Darkspeed Volition driver – 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying about our Wells Fargo Championship photos in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans
GolfWRX is live on site this week at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the PGA Tour’s one-and-only two-man team event.
As usual, general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums — including some pretty spicy custom putters and headcovers — await your viewing.
Be sure to check back for more photos from the Big Easy, as we’ll continue to update this page with additional galleries throughout the week.
General Albums
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Monday #2
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #1
- 2024 Zurich Classic – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Alex Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Austin Cook – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Alejandro Tosti – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- MJ Daffue – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Nate Lashley – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- James Nicholas – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Kevin Streelman – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rasmus Hojgaard – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Tom Whitney – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- SangMoon Bae – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Daniel Berger – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Rory McIlroy – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Russ Cochrane – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Aldrich Potgieter – WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Steve Stricker WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Drew Brees WITB (Legendary New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints QB) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Thriston Lawrence WITB – 2024 Zurich Classic
Pullout Albums
- MJ Daffue’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Cameron putters – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Swag covers ( a few custom for Nick Hardy) – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Custom Bettinardi covers for Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Doug Ghim’s custom Cameron putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
- Patrick Cantlay spotted testing a Scotty Cameron blade putter – 2024 Zurich Classic
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RedX
Jun 15, 2016 at 7:48 pm
truth be told this is only stealth marketing for the sponsors
firmly believe that Rickie is good for the game though – he’s made genuine swing changes and is pushing to win more regularly. I would take him every day over guys just looking to book top 10s to make money
he will be a force for the good in the Ryder Cup later in the year also – seems to be a real team guy
Joew2328
Jun 13, 2016 at 9:25 am
Rickie is great for the game!
Tour Pro
Jun 12, 2016 at 5:27 am
Journalism is dead.
steve
Jun 11, 2016 at 7:47 am
A article about nothing.
ooffa
Jun 10, 2016 at 5:45 pm
Please do an article on the flight attendant
GLA
Jun 10, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Yeah, Folwer is cool, needs to up his game still… but who is the chick?
Tom
Jun 10, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Wheels up flight attendant.
joro
Jun 10, 2016 at 5:28 pm
That was my thought also, wow. lol
Tom
Jun 10, 2016 at 11:46 am
gooOOOO RICKIE!