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 a highly accomplished American professional golfer currently active on the PGA Tour. He held the number one world amateur ranking for 36 weeks between 2007 and 2008. Fowler reached a career-high fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2016 after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Notably, he is one of only four golfers to have ever shot a 62 in a major championship, accomplishing this feat at the 2023 U.S. Open.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1999: Sergio Garcia's Ryder Cup Debut

In 1999, Sergio García made his Ryder Cup debut and was younger than Rickie Fowler when he became the youngest U.S. Ryder Cup player.

2005: Western Junior Win and 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.

2006: U.S. Junior Amateur

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

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 (70-63-70).

2007: Walker Cup Victory and Amateur Wins

In 2007, Rickie Fowler represented the United States in its victory at the Walker Cup. His record was 2–0 in foursomes and 1–1 in singles. Billy Horschel was his partner for both of their foursome victories. Also in 2007, Fowler won the Sunnehanna Amateur in June and the Players Amateur in July.

2007: High School Achievements

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

October 2008: Eisenhower Trophy

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

2008: Sunnehanna Amateur Win and U.S. Open

In 2008, Rickie Fowler repeated as Sunnehanna Amateur champion. In the first round of the U.S. Open, Fowler shot a −1 (70) and was in a tie for 7th place. He ended the tournament tied for 60th.

September 2009: Equipment Deal with Titleist and Rolex

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

December 2009: 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 in the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, losing in a playoff. After the Walker Cup, Fowler turned professional, debuting at the Albertsons Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour.

2009: Walker Cup and Ben Hogan Award

In 2009, Rickie Fowler made his second appearance in the Walker Cup, winning all four matches. He also finished third in the Sunnehanna Amateur. He was awarded the 2008 Ben Hogan Award.

February 2010: Second Place at 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, this was the first major Fowler missed until 2021.

2010: Gaining PGA Tour card

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

July 2011: AT&T National

In July 2011, Fowler tied the 54-hole lead at the AT&T National, but an early double bogey derailed his opportunity for his first PGA Tour win.

2011: "Golf Boys" release "Oh Oh Oh" video

In 2011, Rickie Fowler, along with Ben Crane, Bubba Watson, and Hunter Mahan, as the "Golf Boys", released a YouTube video of the song "Oh Oh Oh" on the eve of the 2011 U.S. Open. Farmers Insurance donated $1,000 for every 100,000 views of the video, with proceeds going to Farmers and Ben Crane charitable initiatives.

2011: World Ranking

Rickie Fowler ended 2011 ranked 32nd in the world.

May 2012: Wells Fargo Championship Win

In May 2012, Rickie Fowler won the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, defeating Rory McIlroy and D. A. Points in a playoff. This win enabled Fowler to break the top-25 in the world.

2013: Australian PGA Championship

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

2013: Fowler had 10 top-10 finishes

Rickie Fowler had 10 top-10 finishes during the 2013-14 season.

2014: U.S. Open and Open Championship Finishes

In 2014, Rickie Fowler had his best major finish at the U.S. Open, finishing runner-up. He also finished second at the Open Championship.

2015: Top 5 Finishes

Jordan Spieth became the fourth player to have finished in the top 5 in all four majors in one calendar year in 2015.

January 24, 2016: Career High in World Golf Ranking

On January 24, 2016, Rickie Fowler reached a career high of fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking after winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

2016: Olympic Games

In 2016, Rickie Fowler played in the Olympics and came in 37th place.

2016: Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Victory and Charity Hole-in-One

In 2016, Rickie Fowler won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on the European Tour. He also sank a hole-in-one to win $1 million for Ernie Els' charity, Els for Autism.

November 12, 2017: OHL Classic at Mayakoba

On November 12, 2017, Rickie Fowler started his 2018 season at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba where he shot rounds of 65-67-67-67 for an 18-under-par total, one stroke shy of winner, Patton Kizzire.

December 3, 2017: Hero World Challenge Win

On December 3, 2017, Rickie Fowler won the Hero World Challenge with a final round of 61. He came from 7 strokes behind to claim the victory.

2017: U.S. Open and PGA Championship Finishes

In 2017, Rickie Fowler carded a 65 to take the first round lead at the U.S. Open but ultimately finished in a tie for fifth place. He also finished tied for fifth at the PGA Championship.

September 2018: Ryder Cup

In September 2018, Rickie Fowler qualified for the U.S. team participating in the 2018 Ryder Cup.

2018: Masters Tournament

At the 2018 Masters Tournament, Rickie Fowler shot a 72-hole score of −14 (274) to finish in 2nd place by 1 stroke.

2018: Waste Management Phoenix Open

At the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Fowler birdied his final three holes during the third round to take the 54-hole lead by a stroke.

2018: Fowler became 27th golfer in PGA Tour history to win $30,000,000

In 2018, Fowler became just the 27th golfer in PGA Tour history to win $30,000,000 in Tour earnings.

December 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.

2019: Tied for second at the 2019 Honda Classic

After changes to his team, Rickie Fowler tied for second at the Zozo Championship, one shot behind winner Keegan Bradley. This was his best finish on Tour since the 2019 Honda Classic, where he also tied for second.

2019: Won the 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.

2019: Suspension of the PGA Tour Season

The 2019–20 PGA Tour season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Sentry Tournament of Champions

In 2020, Rickie Fowler participated in the Sentry Tournament of Champions. It was his last top-10 finish until the 2021 PGA Championship.

2020: PGA Tour Season

In 2020, Rickie Fowler's struggles continued after the PGA tour resumed with up and down results. Fowler finished T49th at The Northern Trust and failed to qualify for the BMW Championship and missed the cut at the 2020 PGA Championship.

2021: T8th finish at the 2021 PGA Championship

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

2021: Risk of missing 2021 Masters Tournament

In 2021, Rickie Fowler was at risk of missing the 2021 Masters Tournament after a missed cut at the Players Championship and a T65th finish at the Honda Classic. Despite competing in the Valero Texas Open, Fowler's T17th finish was not enough to qualify for the Masters.

2022: Struggles and FedEx Cup qualification in 2022

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

2023: Shoots 62 in U.S. Open

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