Mary Larsh, Columnist
I loved turning on the Professional Golfers’ Association Tournament this weekend and seeing something completely uncharacteristic of a PGA Tour golfer.
Rickie Fowler genuinely was having a good time playing golf at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.
When I turned on the television, Fowler was wearing not one, but four flat-brimmed Puma hats turned front, back and to each side of his head.
He was quite a sight, decked out in green from head-to-toe.
Many of the players were wearing green in support of the tournament sponsor, Waste Management, but Fowler caught my attention more than any of his competitors because of his unbridled spirit.
I have an admiration for Fowler’s unique persona.
He routinely dresses in one color, often in orange, with his long hair flowing from his hat.
He has the good looks of Leonardo DiCaprio, and his lack of intensity is refreshing.
What I most enjoyed watching was Fowler’s apparent total enjoyment of the game.
As he teed up on the 16th hole, a par-3 setup like a stadium, he waved his hand in the air to pump up the crowd of 30,000 in the grandstands.
As a golfer, I thought, “That’s a jinx, and he’s putting a lot of pressure on himself.”
But he proceeded to hit the ball beautifully, flying it right over the flagstick 25-feet beyond the hole.
It was a truly remarkable shot and fun to watch, especially since he hit it in front of so many people and with four hats on his head.
Then he made a birdie and put the crowd in a frenzy.
Fowler sets a great example to other players in how not to make the game you love a life-or-death situation.
He played with great skill and involved the crowd at the same time.
He walked off the tee and proceeded to remove the Puma hats from his head, throwing them to fans in the grandstands.
He retrieved many more hats from his golf bag and continued hurling them deep into the crowd.
I was afraid for him, thinking, “He’s going to pull his shoulder throwing those hats so hard.”
It’s apparent that Fowler is truly himself on and off the golf course.
He has a charisma unlike many of his fellow PGA competitors. Fowler has an opportunity to send a different message to golf fans than Tiger Woods ever did.
Although Woods was a great champion to watch, he lacked many of Fowler’s more likable qualities.
Fowler exudes good sportsmanship, a fun personality, a personal interaction with the crowd that Woods never displayed, and a genuine enthusiasm for the game.
Anyone involved in sports at any level would do well to follow Ricky Fowler’s style and just have fun and enjoy playing the game.
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