Posted on 06/14/2014 3:27:09 PM PDT by FlJoePa
PINEHURST, N.C. -- Many kids in Rickie Fowler's generation just don't get it, that's what the Old Schoolers like to say, anyway. The twenty-somethings don't respect history, don't appreciate who came before them, and don't see any cause as bigger than their own daily pursuits.
On the surface, Fowler can come across as the too-cool-for-school face of that perception. He has fame and fortune despite only one PGA Tour victory to his name. He wears hip clothes, appears in cute, if self-congratulatory, commercials, and plays in a faux band on YouTube with a circle of fellow pampered golfers.
Oh yeah, and the ladies have noticed he looks like Johnny Depp to boot.
Even though he will only do it for the first round of the U.S. Open, Rickie Fowler's tribute to the late Payne Stewart showed that he understands more than just what goes on inside the ropes.
Only around tour, Fowler is known as a genuine soul, as real as the day is long. So when he walked into the Pinehurst locker room Thursday morning dressed up as one of his heroes, Payne Stewart, some of his U.S. Open competitors were taken aback but not surprised.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
I thought that it was wonderful.
Good on him.
At least he ain’t a PGA Stepford clone.
Yes. He seems to be a good guy.
I know that here, locally, he is very involved w/ all the local charities. Other than Ernie, he’s the one I see donating the most time. He might only be a few back by the end of the day. We’ll see.
Good for him. I’ve actually got a pair of Nickers and have worn them a couple times on the links. They are quite comfortable. I remember Payne wearing the NFL colors all the time. He was definitely one of my favorites.
Kid needs to improve his mediocre tour level game and stop worrying about the goofy get ups (Payne tribute aside). We already had a Jasper Parnevik.
I watched part of it today. He seemed to be doing fine, but Kaymer is doing so well..on the other hand, tomorrow everything could change completely. Pinehurst is gorgeous.
Well, he’s 25. When Tom Watson was 25 he was known as the biggest choker in the world of golf.
We’ll see how his career plays out. He’s not lazy. He puts in the work, he just needs to get more out of it - in an ultra competitive environment.
Maybe working w/ Harmon will produce a couple of tour wins this year.
Yes, Pinehurst is gorgeous.
I remember Payne’s funeral. It touched many lives.
Payne was a treasure. I was beside myself when he passed.
I’ve been to Pinehurst probably 5 or 6 times and it is a beautiful place. I like the way the scrub has creeped into the playing areas.
It’s Donald Ross. If you ever get to Scotland - make it a point to get to Dornoch - where Ross was born. You see where the crowning of his greens came from.
That said, Merion is a tough act to follow. I thought Merion was the most riveting golf I’ve seen in years. This year, everyone’s watching soccer.
Er, he just posted the low round of the third day the US Open. He shot -3 on a day the course average was +5.
I hope to visit Scotland one day. I’ve spent some time on a Donald Ross course in New Hampshire, and have admired his talent for many years. My husband is of Scottish descent, and he has visited Scotland twice on golfing trips. He loves it.
There are so many beautiful golf courses, here and elsewhere.
The young players on the tour these days are a joy to watch.
It looks like Kaymer and Fowler in the final group tomorrow. 4 shot lead now but Kaymer has a couple holes to go...could be three shots when they tee off.
Not everyone is watching soccer...In fact, I’m 65 years old and have never watched even 30 seconds of soccer...
You are so right...They are much better today than 10-15 years ago when it was “cookie cutter” golfers...
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