Former Phoenix Open Chairman Talks About Rickie Fowler: ‘He’s Repaid Us a Thousand Times…’

Apart from the fact that he was brimming with potential, it was luck that brought John Felix into the life of Rickie Fowler. If Felix hadn’t believed in the young amateur, the golfer might not have seen the limelight as he does today. 

John Felix, the then chief of Thunderbirds, is the real reason Fowler is the face of the Phoenix Open now. ‘Thunderbirds’ is a company that organizes the tournament after Waste Management became the title sponsor of the Open in 2009. 

As part of their sponsorship, the company was allowed to add five golfers as a sponsor exemption to the tournament. Felix was responsible for deciding the five golfers, and he chose Fowler as one of them. 

Rickie Fowler was still an upcoming golfer when Felix took him onboard

Fowler was just a sophomore student at Oklahoma University when John Felix picked him as a sponsor exemption. Although he faced immense criticisms for the same, Felix believed in his decision.

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He said, “He’s got the ‘X factor.’ I just looked at his record, and he always performed on a big stage; the bigger the stage, the better he performed.”

Fowler was loyal to John and the Phoenix Open as he attended the tournament more than any other PGA Tour event. Since he had a ‘Motorcross’ background, Rickie was able to entice the audience with his energy.

Rickie explained how he could connect with the audience. He said, “I grew up around action sports, and this kind of reminds me more of being at action sports events, the fans being loud and having fun.”

A win at the Phoenix Open

Fowler struggled to win the title. Although he went closer to it in 2016, he couldn’t win against Hideki Matsuyama in the playoffs. However, in 2019, ten years after Felix believed in the young golfer, Fowler hoisted the trophy of the Open. 

“He’s repaid us a thousand times over for that invitation.” While talking about the win at the Open, Felix has nothing but praise for the golfer. He added, “Seeing him finally win our tournament is my favorite moment of being involved in the tournament. He made me look smart, but I didn’t know it was going to turn out the way it did.”

It is hard to say who the lucky one among the two was; Rickie or John. If Fowler didn’t stay with the Open till now, Felix wouldn’t have been as happy as he is currently. Similarly, if John hadn’t included Rickie as a sponsor exemption, Rickie may have not had a career as successful as the one he enjoys right now. 

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