Rickie Fowler has always been in the driver’s seat.
It just so happens that his “seat” is now the biggest club in the golf bag — and his dirt track how now turned to grass. But before Fowler was patrolling the greens, he was in for the wild ride of motorsports.
On the surface, it’s hard to imagine finding two sports further apart on the spectrum. Motorsports are loud, loose and chaotic like unsupervised children on a Friday night in the summer. Golf is quiet, organized and calm like a fancy restaurant with a dress code.
Fans that have followed Fowler’s career know that he hasn’t been one to fit the look of a golfer. The flat-brimmed backwards hat, mirrored sunglasses and long hair don’t convey that message. His look has shifted a little over time — notably with a shorter haircut now, but the rebel remains within Fowler.
MORE: Has Rickie Fowler ever won a major?
Now he’s in a familiar spot at the U.S. Open — the driver’s seat. After posting a historic opening round, Fowler heads into the weekend as the talk of the town. It shouldn’t be a surprise though. Rebels have always had a place in Hollywood.
History. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/d6AcJmRDZe
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023
The Sporting News looks back on fascinating sports history of Rickie Fowler.
Was Rickie Fowler a motocross rider?
Fowler never used to be far from a dirt bike. Many say it was his first love. The smell of the gasoline and sounds of the engines revving made Fowler’s career trajectory far from the golf course.
It seemed as if he was destined for a lifetime of drinking Monster Energy and kicking up dirt while jumping off mountainous hills — always riding the fine line between recklessness and glory.
Fowler’s father, Rod, was a fan of the sport, which rubbed off on the young rider. But by the time his teenage years came around, it was clear that Fowler wasn’t going to stick that landing.
Why did Rickie Fowler leave motocross?
At the age of 15, Fowler had to wave the red flag on a rut that would claim his racing career. There would be no more motos, no more plunges and no more exhilarating rides through the berms. Instead, Fowler would be relegated to the pits and much, much slower speeds.
He would break his leg in three spots and give up racing. Fowler would instead opt to pursue golf, his second love. You always remember your first though and Fowler didn’t forget that. He would go on to incorporate motocross into his golf commercials and never miss an opportunity to watch a race.
Fowler serves as one of those weird, loose connections that bind the two polar opposite sports.
How did Rickie Fowler become a golfer?
Once motocross was in the rearview mirror, golf appeared in the windshield. The big picture was that he was a capable golfer, needing to hone some skills — skills that translated from racing.
“Motocross made me a bit fearless on the course,” Fowler told Golf Digest during an interview in 2010. “I’ve taken the more conservative route on the bike now, but I’m still taking risks and having fun on the golf course.”
It’s a style that has proven fruitful for the 34-year-old, who was once ranked in the top-five amongst golfers around the world. He’s dropped in recent years — to 45th in the world — but can climb even higher with a U.S. Open win.
MORE: Who is Rickie Fowler’s caddie?
When you’re hot, you’re hot 🔥
10 birdies today for @RickieFowler and he is alone at -8. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/5oJlbWK6NV
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023
And Fowler is perfectly fine with rising to new heights in an unorthodox way.
“I mean, on a dirt bike, when you’re sizing up a jump you can’t have any second thoughts,” he said. “You have to fully commit. If you don’t, a lot of things can go wrong. And when things go wrong on a bike, it’s a lot worse than when they go wrong on the golf course. Once you commit, you just go. Same goes for a golf shot.”
While Fowler might be riding at some slower speeds, the heart of a racer still lives on — even when the sport passes him by. But luckily for Fowler, he’s still a fan and gets to keep cashing checks from playing the slow game on the links.
That’s one landing he managed to stick.
