Career Timeline of Rickie Fowler: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Rickie Fowler made an impact.

Rickie Fowler is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour, formerly ranked as the world's number one amateur golfer. He achieved a career-high ranking of fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2016 after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Notably, Fowler is one of a select few golfers to have shot a 62 in a major championship, accomplishing this at the 2023 U.S. Open held at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1999: Sergio García's Ryder Cup debut

In 1999, Sergio García was younger than Rickie Fowler when he made his Ryder Cup debut.

2005: Competed in U.S. Amateur

In 2005, Rickie Fowler won the Western Junior and competed in the U.S. Amateur, where he was defeated by Richie Ramsay, the eventual champion.

2006: U.S. Junior Amateur

In 2006, Rickie Fowler shot a 137 for two rounds at the U.S. Junior Amateur and was knocked out in the second round of match play.

October 1, 2007: First collegiate victory

On October 1, 2007, Rickie Fowler achieved his first collegiate victory at the Fighting Illini Invitational hosted by the University of Illinois, shooting a 203 to win by one stroke.

2007: Represented the United States at the Walker Cup

In 2007, Rickie Fowler represented the United States in its victory at the Walker Cup, achieving an overall record of 3–1.

2007: Ranked number one amateur golfer

In 2007, Rickie Fowler was ranked the number one amateur golfer in the world.

2007: Led team to state final in senior year

In 2007, during his senior year in high school, Rickie Fowler won the SW League Final with a total score of 64-69=133 and led his team to the state final.

October 2008: Played on Eisenhower Trophy team

In October 2008, Rickie Fowler played on the Eisenhower Trophy team that finished second. He was the leading individual player.

2008: Continued time as number one amateur golfer

In 2008, Rickie Fowler continued to be ranked the number one amateur golfer in the world.

2008: Repeated as Sunnehanna Amateur champion

In 2008, Rickie Fowler repeated as Sunnehanna Amateur champion. He also participated in the U.S. Open, finishing tied for 60th.

September 2009: Signed equipment deal with Titleist

In September 2009, Rickie Fowler signed a multi-year equipment deal with Titleist and later signed a deal with Rolex. His first PGA Tour event as a professional was the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

December 2009: Gained PGA Tour card

In December 2009, Rickie Fowler successfully gained his PGA Tour card for 2010 through qualifying school, finishing T15.

2009: Runner-up finish and pro debut

In 2009, Rickie Fowler had his first runner-up finish on the Nationwide Tour at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. After the Walker Cup, Fowler turned professional and played the Albertsons Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour for his pro debut.

2009: Second Walker Cup Appearance

In 2009, Rickie Fowler made his second and last appearance in the Walker Cup, winning all four matches as the U.S. won. He also finished third in the Sunnehanna Amateur in 2009 and was given the 2008 Ben Hogan Award.

February 2010: Second place at Waste Management Phoenix Open

In February 2010, Rickie Fowler finished second at the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a score of 15-under-par at the TPC of Scottsdale course.

2010: Missed Qualification for U.S. Open

In 2010, Rickie Fowler did not qualify for the U.S. Open. According to the text, the 2021 Masters was the first major Fowler missed since not qualifying for the 2010 U.S. Open.

2010: Gained PGA Tour card for 2010

In December 2009, Rickie Fowler successfully gained his PGA Tour card for 2010 through qualifying school, finishing T15.

July 2011: Tied lead at AT&T National

In July 2011, Rickie Fowler tied the 54-hole lead at the AT&T National.

2011: Year-end ranking

In 2011, Rickie Fowler ended the year ranked 32nd in the world.

2011: Release of "Oh Oh Oh" Music Video

On the eve of the 2011 U.S. Open, the Golf Boys, including Rickie Fowler, released a YouTube video of the song "Oh Oh Oh". Farmers Insurance donated $1,000 for every 100,000 views of the video. The charitable proceeds went to support both Farmers and Ben Crane charitable initiatives.

May 2012: Won Wells Fargo Championship

In May 2012, Rickie Fowler won the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte on the first extra hole of a sudden-death playoff, defeating Rory McIlroy and D. A. Points with a birdie. This win enabled Fowler to break the top-25 in the world.

2012: Filmed Crowne Plaza Hotels Commercial

In 2012, Rickie Fowler filmed a commercial for Crowne Plaza Hotels entitled "It's Good to be Rickie" with golf commentator Ian Baker Finch.

2013: Runner-up in Australian PGA Championship

In 2013, Rickie Fowler finished runner-up in the Australian PGA Championship, four shots behind the tournament winner Adam Scott.

2013: Fowler had 10 top-10 finishes during the 2013–14 season

In 2013, Rickie Fowler had 10 top-10 finishes during the 2013–14 season. His 8th-place finish at The Tour Championship moved him to 10th in the world golf rankings.

2013: Featured in ESPN Commercial

In 2013, Rickie Fowler was featured in an ESPN "This is SportsCenter" commercial with sportscaster John Anderson.

2014: Runner-up finishes at U.S. Open and Open Championship

In 2014, Rickie Fowler had his best finish of the year at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, finishing as runner-up. He also had a second-place finish at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.

November 28, 2015: Guest Picker on ESPN's College GameDay

On November 28, 2015, Rickie Fowler was the guest picker on ESPN's College GameDay, where his picks went 7-4.

2015: Jordan Spieth joined Fowler and others in finishing in the top 5

In 2015, Jordan Spieth became the fourth player to finish in the top 5 in all four majors in one calendar year.

2015: Named Ambassador for PGA Junior League Golf

In 2015, Rickie Fowler was announced as an official ambassador for PGA Junior League Golf, a program owned and operated by the PGA of America.

January 24, 2016: Victory at Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

On January 24, 2016, Rickie Fowler reached a career-high fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking following his victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

2016: First victory of 2016 and hole-in-one for charity

In 2016, Rickie Fowler claimed his first victory of the year in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on the European Tour. On March 7, Fowler made a hole-in-one to win $1 million for Ernie Els' charity, Els for Autism.

2016: Participated in the 2016 Olympics

In 2016, Rickie Fowler participated in the Olympics, where he came in 37th place.

November 12, 2017: Started 2018 season at OHL Classic at Mayakoba

On November 12, 2017, Rickie Fowler started his 2018 season at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. It was his 12th tour runner-up finish and he became just the 27th golfer in PGA Tour history to win $30,000,000 in Tour earnings.

December 3, 2017: Won Hero World Challenge

On December 3, 2017, Rickie Fowler won the Hero World Challenge after recording a 61 in the fourth round. He came from 7 strokes behind to claim a four-stroke victory. The round of 61 was a course and tournament record, as well as being a personal best round for Fowler as a professional.

2017: First round lead at U.S. Open and top-5 finish at PGA Championship

In 2017, Rickie Fowler carded a round of 65 to take the first-round lead at the U.S. Open. He also finished in a tie for fifth at the PGA Championship, marking his seventh top-5 major finish.

September 2018: Participated in the 2018 Ryder Cup

In September 2018, Rickie Fowler qualified for the U.S. team participating in the 2018 Ryder Cup. He went 1-3-0, losing his singles match against Sergio García, and Europe defeated the U.S. team.

2018: Second place at Masters Tournament

In 2018, Rickie Fowler shot a 72-hole score of −14 (274) to finish in 2nd place to champion Patrick Reed by 1 stroke at the Masters Tournament. It was his eighth top-5 major finish.

2018: 54-hole lead at Waste Management Phoenix Open

In 2018, Rickie Fowler took the 54-hole lead at the Waste Management Phoenix Open but finished T11.

2018: Started season at OHL Classic

December 2019: Played on U.S. team at 2019 Presidents Cup

In December 2019, Rickie Fowler played on the U.S. team at the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia. The U.S. team won 16–14. Fowler went 1–0–3 and halved his Sunday singles match against Marc Leishman.

2019: Tied for Second at Honda Classic

After changes to his caddie and swing coach, Fowler had improved results, finishing tied for 6th in the season opening Fortinet Championship. After a missed cut at the Shriners Children's Open, Fowler tied for second at the Zozo Championship, one shot behind winner Keegan Bradley. This was Fowler's best finish on Tour since the 2019 Honda Classic, where he also tied for second.

2019: PGA Tour season suspended

In 2019, The 2019–20 PGA Tour season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the season resumed, Fowler's struggles continued with up and down results.

2019: Won Rocket Mortgage Classic

In July 2019, Rickie Fowler won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in a playoff over Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin. It was his first win on the PGA Tour since the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

2020: Last Top-10 Finish Before PGA Championship

Before his T8th finish at the 2021 PGA Championship, Rickie Fowler's last top-10 finish in an event was at the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions.

2020: Up and down results after PGA Tour season resumed

In 2020, the PGA Tour season resumed after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fowler's struggles continued with up and down results, including missed cuts and a T49th finish at The Northern Trust.

2021: T8th Finish at PGA Championship

In 2021, Rickie Fowler missed cuts at the Wells Fargo Championship and the AT&T Byron Nelson. However, at the 2021 PGA Championship, he finished T8th. This was his first top-10 finish in an event since the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions.

2021: Risk of Missing Masters Tournament

In 2021, Rickie Fowler struggled with his performance, including a missed cut at the Players Championship and a T65th at the Honda Classic. Heading into the Valero Texas Open in 2021, he was at risk of missing the Masters Tournament. He finished T17th, and therefore missed the Masters. This was the first major Fowler missed since 2010.

2022: Retained Tour Card After Struggles

In 2022, Rickie Fowler struggled, missing his first three cuts until a T55th finish at the Genesis Invitational. He played in only one major, the PGA Championship, tying for 23rd. Fowler barely retained his Tour card in 2022, finishing 125th in the FedEx Cup, claiming the last spot.

2023: Shot 62 in U.S. Open

In 2023, Rickie Fowler shot a 62 at the U.S. Open, played at the Los Angeles Country Club, becoming one of only four golfers to achieve this feat in a major championship.