History of Rickie Fowler in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

Rickie Fowler is a prominent American professional golfer known for his vibrant personality and distinct style on the PGA Tour. Turning professional in 2009, he quickly rose to prominence as one of the game's most recognizable figures. Throughout his career, Fowler has achieved multiple PGA Tour victories, including a notable win at The Players Championship in 2015. He has consistently contended in major championships, earning top-five finishes across all four events, and represented the United States multiple times in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. Renowned for his aggressive playstyle and early association with high-visibility branding, he remains a fan favorite and a significant influence in modern golf. Despite periods of fluctuating form, his resilience and technical skill have kept him competitive at the highest levels of the sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

December 13, 1988: Birth of Rickie Fowler

Rick Yutaka Fowler was born on December 13, 1988, marking the beginning of the life of the future professional golfer.

Others born on this day/year

1999: Sergio Garcia's Ryder Cup Debut

In 1999, Sergio Garcia made his debut at the Ryder Cup, setting a record as the youngest player to participate in the tournament at that time, a milestone that stood until Rickie Fowler later competed at age 21 in the same event.

2005: Western Junior Win and U.S. Amateur Appearance

During the summer of 2005, Fowler achieved a victory at the Western Junior tournament and participated in the U.S. Amateur, where he faced defeat against the eventual champion, Richie Ramsay.

2006: U.S. Junior Amateur Participation

In 2006, Rickie Fowler recorded a score of 137 over two rounds at the U.S. Junior Amateur tournament, ultimately being eliminated during the second round of match play.

October 1, 2007: First Collegiate Victory at Fighting Illini Invitational

On October 1, 2007, Rickie Fowler secured his first collegiate win at the Fighting Illini Invitational, hosted by the University of Illinois, finishing with a total score of 203 to win by a single stroke.

2007: Walker Cup Victory and Amateur Wins

During 2007, Fowler helped the United States win the Walker Cup with a 3-1 record, and also secured victories at the Sunnehanna Amateur in June and the Players Amateur in July.

2007: Number One Ranked Amateur Golfer

During 2007, Rickie Fowler held the position of the number one ranked amateur golfer in the world, a status he maintained for a portion of a 36-week period that spanned into 2008.

2007: Victory at the SW League Final

In 2007, during his senior year of high school, Rickie Fowler achieved a significant victory at the SW League Final with a score of 64-69=133 and subsequently led his Murrieta Valley High School team to the state final.

October 2008: Eisenhower Trophy and Ben Hogan Award

In October 2008, Rickie Fowler competed on the Eisenhower Trophy team where he finished as the top individual player, despite the team placing second. During 2008, he was also honored with the Ben Hogan Award.

2008: Sunnehanna Amateur Repeat and U.S. Open Debut

In 2008, Fowler defended his title at the Sunnehanna Amateur and competed in the U.S. Open, where he successfully made the cut and finished in a tie for 60th place.

2008: Continuation of World Amateur Ranking Lead

In 2008, Rickie Fowler continued his dominance as the top-ranked amateur golfer in the world, completing a cumulative 36-week reign that began in 2007.

September 2009: Titleist Equipment Deal Signing

In September 2009, Rickie Fowler officially signed a multi-year sponsorship and equipment agreement with Titleist.

December 2009: PGA Tour Card Qualification

In December 2009, Rickie Fowler successfully secured his PGA Tour card for the upcoming 2010 season by finishing T15 at the qualifying school tournament.

2009: Fowler's Professional Debut and Early Nationwide Tour Performance

In 2009, Rickie Fowler achieved his first career runner-up finish on the Nationwide Tour at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational after a playoff loss to Derek Lamely. Following his participation in the Walker Cup, Fowler officially turned professional, making his debut at the Albertsons Boise Open.

2009: Walker Cup Success and Sunnehanna Amateur

Throughout 2009, Fowler participated in his final Walker Cup appearance, where he remained undefeated in all four matches to help the U.S. team secure a seven-point victory. Additionally, in 2009, he achieved a third-place finish at the Sunnehanna Amateur.

February 2010: Runner-up Finish at Waste Management Phoenix Open

In February 2010, Rickie Fowler achieved a second-place finish at the Waste Management Phoenix Open held at the TPC of Scottsdale, ending the tournament with a score of 15-under-par.

2010: PGA Tour Rookie Season

In 2010, Rickie Fowler officially joined the PGA Tour as a card-carrying member following his successful qualification performance in late 2009.

July 2011: AT&T National Performance

In July 2011, Rickie Fowler entered the final round of the AT&T National tied for the lead, but a double bogey early in his Sunday round prevented him from securing his first PGA Tour victory.

2011: 2011 World Golf Ranking Milestone

In 2011, professional golfer Rickie Fowler concluded the competitive season holding the 32nd position in the official world golf rankings.

May 2012: First PGA Tour Victory at the Wells Fargo Championship

In May 2012, Rickie Fowler secured his first PGA Tour win at the Wells Fargo Championship held at Quail Hollow Club. After finishing in a three-way tie at the end of regulation, he defeated Rory McIlroy and D. A. Points on the first playoff hole with a birdie, a victory that propelled him into the top 25 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time.

2013: Start of 2013-14 Season Performance

During the 2013-14 season, Rickie Fowler achieved 10 top-10 finishes and reached 10th in the world golf rankings following an 8th-place finish at The Tour Championship.

2013: Runner-up at the Australian PGA Championship

In 2013, Rickie Fowler achieved a second-place finish at the Australian PGA Championship, concluding the tournament four strokes behind the winner, Adam Scott.

2014: Fowler's 2014 Major Championship Performances

During the 2014 season, Rickie Fowler achieved significant success in major championships, notably securing a tie for fifth at the Masters in April, a runner-up position at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, and another runner-up finish at the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

2015: Jordan Spieth Ties Major Record

In 2015, Jordan Spieth became the fourth player in history to finish in the top 5 in all four majors in a single calendar year, joining the exclusive company of Rickie Fowler, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

January 24, 2016: Career-High World Ranking

On January 24, 2016, Rickie Fowler achieved a career-high ranking of fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking, a milestone attained after his win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

2016: Scottish Open Withdrawal and 2016 Olympic Participation

In 2016, Rickie Fowler opted not to defend his title at the Scottish Open due to scheduling conflicts with the Olympic Games, where he subsequently finished in 37th place.

2016: Active 2016 Tournament Season

Throughout 2016, Rickie Fowler achieved several significant milestones, including winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, finishing as a runner-up at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and winning $1 million for charity via a hole-in-one on March 7, 2016.

November 12, 2017: Runner-up finish at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba

On November 12, 2017, Rickie Fowler concluded the OHL Classic at Mayakoba with an 18-under-par total after shooting rounds of 65-67-67-67, finishing one stroke behind Patton Kizzire.

December 3, 2017: Victory at the Hero World Challenge

On December 3, 2017, Rickie Fowler achieved a remarkable comeback victory at the Hero World Challenge by shooting an 11-under-par 61 in the final round. Overcoming a seven-stroke deficit against leader Charley Hoffman, he won the tournament by four strokes, setting both course and tournament records in the process.

2017: Rickie Fowler's 2017 Major Championship Performance

During the 2017 season, Rickie Fowler demonstrated competitive strength at major championships. In June 2017, he set a record for the lowest first-round score at the U.S. Open with a 65 at Erin Hills, eventually finishing tied for fifth. Later that year, at the PGA Championship, he concluded the tournament with a strong 4-under 67, again finishing tied for fifth place, which marked his seventh career top-5 finish in major tournaments.

September 2018: Participation in the 2018 Ryder Cup

In September 2018, Rickie Fowler qualified to represent the United States at the 2018 Ryder Cup. During the tournament, the U.S. team was defeated by Europe with a final score of 17 1/2 to 10 1/2. Fowler finished the event with an individual record of 1-3-0, notably losing his singles match against Sergio García.

2018: 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open Performance

During the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, Rickie Fowler secured a 54-hole lead following a strong third round where he birdied the final three holes. However, he struggled in the final round, shooting a 72 (+2) to finish in a tie for 11th place.

2018: PGA Tour earnings milestone

During the 2018 season, which Fowler initiated in late 2017, he became the 27th golfer in PGA Tour history to surpass $30,000,000 in total career earnings.

2018: 2018 Masters Tournament Runner-Up Finish

In 2018, Rickie Fowler finished in second place at the Masters Tournament with a 72-hole score of -14, finishing just one stroke behind the eventual champion, Patrick Reed. This achievement marked his eighth top-five finish in a major championship, though a major victory remained elusive for him at that time.

December 2019: 2019 Presidents Cup participation

In December 2019, Rickie Fowler participated in the 2019 Presidents Cup held at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia, contributing to a 16-14 victory for the U.S. team with a personal record of 1-0-3.

2023: Record-Tying Major Championship Score

In 2023, during the U.S. Open held at the Los Angeles Country Club, Rickie Fowler made history by shooting a 62, becoming one of only four golfers to achieve such a score in a major championship.