Fowler dazzles

While USD’s own Gunner Wiebe put up a valiant effort in this past week’s Farmers Insurance Open, another young golfer caught my eye. Rickie Fowler electrified the crowd at Torry Pines throughout the week coming up only two shots short of champion Ben Crane.
It seemed that I was not alone in my adoration for the 21-year-old. Born less than an hour away from Torrey Pines in Murrieta, Fowler had more than a few fans following him on Sunday. The galleries on 17 and 18 were replete with crazed fans ready to explode into applause at any sign of his supreme talent. Calls of “youngster” rained down upon him as he walked up to the 17th green, still vying for his first professional title. You would have never guessed he double bogeyed the hole by the fans’ reactions. Only encouraging
words could be heard as he rushed off the green in disgust of a rare mistake.
Why is this kid so likable? To put it simply, he plays the game the way we wish we could play it. He genuinely seems like a normal, shaggy haired, Southern
California kid that just happens to be really good at golf. He does not seem far removed from the weekend hackers that so desperately want to trade places with him.
Fowler even has one of his buddies, Joe, as his caddie. The connection the two had seemed unique on the Tour. While most player-caddie relationships seem strictly business, this was truly a friendship. It was as if Joe was there to bring a sense of reality and familiarity. In the times of pressure, Rickie would talk withJoe
more, searching for a sense of calm that he knew he could find only in a friend. It doesn’t get much better than having one of your best friends out on the course with you as you try to steal a title from some of the best golfers in the game.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of his game is his unapologetic fearlessness. He swings as hard as he can on every drive and still sticks in the center of the fairway. He takes risks and seems almost oblivious to the fact that he is the next big thing. Fowler never waffles over a club decision and does not allow himself
to freeze up over a big putt. The “grip it and rip it” style is refreshing and exhilarating at the same time. As fans, we see ourselves in him because he is the unassuming, absurdly talented kid we grew up wanting to be.
As Rickie shook Phil Mickelson’s hand and walked off the 18th green, I could not help but stand in awe for a brief moment. This 21-year-old just stood toe to toe with giants of the golf game and didn’t blink. That is his calling card and the reason he is so engaging. With a massive void left in golf, Fowler is one of the few players that has the opportunity
to become the new face of the sport.