Rickie Fowler Turns 36: 5 Unforgettable Moments From His Life & Career Explored

What an incredibly special day December 13, 2024, was for Rickie Fowler. For two reasons! It was the last time that his on-course partner, Lexi Thompson, would be opening the 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational before retiring as a full-time golfer on the LPGA Tour. Secondly, he turned 36. Thompson made his birthday extra special. 

As both of them were all set to tee off on Friday at the Tiburon Golf Club, she brought him an orange cake. You know what that means for the 6X PGA Tour champion. The crowd sang happy birthday for him, making the day all the more memorable. Before he embarks on yet another year of golfing excellence, here are the top five moments from his professional career that stood out: 

1. 2023 Rocket Mortgage victory

Rickie Fowler bagged his fifth PGA Tour victory at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open in February by defeating Branden Grace with a stroke lead. It had been four long years since he could clinch the trophy the next time, until the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic when the PGA Tour Pro finally made a much-awaited comeback.

On Sunday, he began the round with an already established lead and solidified his stance by ceasing an impressive round of three birdies in the first seven holes. He hit the approach to the final hole to 3 feet and made the finishing putt before he holed a 12-footer on the same green. The putt that finally turned the tables for him. Before this, he was tied with Adam Hadwin and Colin Morikawa on the seventeenth hole.

“It’s hard to really put it all into words,” Fowler said afterward while holding his daughter Maya. “Obviously a lot of good stuff this year, and I’ve been playing some really good golf, so I knew it was just a matter of time with how I’ve been playing. I’ve had a couple of tough weekends where I had a chance. Winning is great, but there is a lot more to life than that.”

2. 2017 Hero World Challenge supremacy 

The 2017 Hero World Challenge will forever remain etched in the hearts of every golf fan for being one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport. Rickie Fowler demonstrated an exceptional turnaround; he won the tournament by defeating Scottie Scheffler with a staggering four-stroke lead. He began the round by trailing behind seven strokes on Sunday.

Well, honestly, his chances of clinching the trophy looked rather thin. But he had to show his resurgence at Albany that year. In the front nine, he ended up carding a round of eight birdies and took over the tournament completely. And on the back nine, he finished with a course record of 61 to finally seal the runaway victory in the Bahamas. 

3. 2015 PLAYERS Championship

One of the most memorable moments in Rickie Fowler’s golf career came at the 2015 PLAYERS Championship, held at the iconic TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Known as one of golf’s fifth major tournaments due to its prestige and challenging course, it marked a pivotal moment for Fowler and his rise in the sport.

Fowler entered the final round of the tournament four strokes behind the leader, Sergio García, and was facing a formidable challenge. However, in typical Fowler fashion, he stayed calm and focused, managing to put together a thrilling final round. He shot a 67, including a clutch birdie on the 17th hole, the famous Island Green, which is often one of the most nerve-wracking holes in golf.

The drama continued down to the 18th hole, where Fowler’s steady play and nerves of steel saw him tie for the lead with Kevin Kisner and Sergio García. The three players went into a sudden-death playoff, and Fowler’s poise shone through. On the par-3 17th, Fowler hit a beautiful tee shot and managed to par the hole, while the other two faltered, ultimately giving Fowler his first PLAYERS Championship win.

4. Welcoming his two daughters

More than being a golfer, Rickie Fowler enjoys being a girl dad, at least that’s what he says. It is his ‘main job.’ Rickie Fowler and Allison Fowler shared the news of their first child in the summer of 2021. They shared a photo of the baby bump as Allison posed on the beach. “Reservation for November…Fowler party of 3,” Rickie wrote in his post. “Coming in November… @rickiefowler might find himself a little outnumbered,” Allison quipped on her account.

They finally welcomed baby Maya Fowler on November 18, 2021, and the couple could not be any more thrilled. Well, his job was doubled this year in August. Fowler announced the news on August 10 in the morning on Instagram, as Nellie joined her older sister Maya in what is now a family of four. “My family!!  Right where I’m supposed to be,” Fowler wrote on Instagram. “Welcome to the crew, Nellie.”

5. 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational fan moment

At the 2023 Grant Thornton Invitational, Rickie Fowler invited a young fan onto the course to play a putting round together. PGA Tour shared the video and wrote,

“Dream come true. @RickieFowler brought a young fan inside the ropes for a putting competition at last year’s @GTInvitational.” This act of kindness highlights just how generous Fowler is, and it’s no surprise that fans adore him.

Even though Rickie Fowler has been having a not-so-good run this season, the PGA Tour pro remains a fan favorite! What are your thoughts on the 6X champion? Let us know in the comments section below!