WADE PRETORIUS gives his account as a fan who stumbled into covering sport events for a living, which gave him the opportunity to meet one of his favourite sportsmen, Rickie Fowler.
Manchester United. The Proteas. The Springboks, the old Eastern Province Jumbos and, to a lesser extent, the Stormers. And Rickie Fowler. These are the names that have dominated 26 of my 31 years as a sports-mad South African.
Sure, I loved watching Ernie Els and that first week of December at Sun City; Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald were heroes too and adorned my childhood bedroom wall just as Ryan Giggs and the treble-winning side of 1999 did. But in truth, I was never as passionate about any of the individuals who made up my favourite teams as I am about Rickie Fowler. He ranks on par with United and SA’s international sides when it comes to stopping everything to watch when a trophy is on the line.
The good thing is it’s part of my job, after trading the long hours of law for the equally long hours as a sports journalist.
No one ever told me that, as a journalist, you weren’t supposed to take selfies with the subjects of your stories. I’ve managed to apply the rules of being unbiased and impartial when it comes to South Africa’s players across all Tours. Sure, I have my favourites: those who appreciate the media and understand the role they play in the advancements of their careers and those whose swings I wish I could emulate.
My limit of selfie-control is quite strong and I managed to adhere to that unwritten rule … until the day I met Fowler.
I don’t know when I started following his progress but a quick Twitter search tells me it’s back to at least 2011. I’ve taken a lot of abuse since then for his full Sunday orange gear and those flat caps that marked his early style years. ‘Rickie Fowler has earned almost $4-million on Tour this year. Well done, Rickie, you’re more than just your clothes and cap!’ I tweeted in August 2014. More than enough justification of his talent.
He’s refined his look since then and in the process almost single-handedly moved Puma Golf to the next level and kept Cobra Golf in the news with each passing year and positive growth in his career. Now he’s founded his own media company, Main Event Productions, and will produce a documentary on the golf rivalry in Oklahoma. He’s done a bunch of TV ads and made a hole-in-one on an urban golf course during a publicity event.
While refining his look, the now 29-year-old has continued to produce strong results and reap the financial rewards for his consistency. He had a big year in 2014 as he ended all four Majors in a share of fifth or better. He earned almost $1-million more in 2015 than he did in 2014 as he took home $5 773 430 after his sensational finish at The Players Championship, where he played the final six holes in six under par, to get into a playoff against Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner. He showed his nerve to land golf’s unofficial fifth Major.
In 2016, I was part of a media trip to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship that traditionally features a strong field. It was there that I managed to enjoy a sports dream come true as Fowler holed out from the bunker late in his final round before holding off Thomas Pieters for the win.
Fowler duly handed out champagne in the press room, spoke at length afterwards, answering many questions, signing pin flags and doing live TV for the local channels before being handed a headset for a radio chat with the Golf Channel back home. I hung around and watched as he smiled and waved and entertained any and all requests, including mine for a selfie; I’d just broken the ‘golden rule’. Zero regrets.
Would you hold it against anyone for taking a photo with Roger Federer or Usain Bolt? I was a sports fan before I signed up for this job, not some holier-than-thou character, and I’ll be a sports fan when I’m finished.
Do you really blame me or think less of me because I took the opportunity for a memento? When next will I get the chance to see him play live and win?
Jacques Kallis, one of South Africa’s greatest sportsmen, tweeted a picture with Rory McIlroy. Catching a moment with someone you admire shouldn’t be diminished because of what you do to for a living.
Fowler had a strong amateur career, represented the US in team events andwas ‘brave enough’ to put his hand up to play at the Olympics in 2016. His response to Jordan Spieth’s text when he pulled out of the Games? ‘You’re just going to be jealous when I win gold.’ Fowler wasn’t successful in that quest, but that didn’t stop him from having the time of his life. There are photos of him with Michael Phelps, alongside Bubba Watson as they shared the company of Olympic teammates in the athletes’ village and, of course, many photos of his Olympic tattoo.
That’s what you get from Fowler. He wants to win and has a good enough game, but isn’t prepared to trade his life for 100% dedication to golf. His holidays are famous, as is his love life. He’s been accused of being too nice and not having the killer instinct. He was the first to congratulate Patrick Reed after his Olympic teammate did enough to win the Green Jacket ahead of him and plays the sport in the same manner you’d want your kids to play.
He’s the closest thing to ‘the next Arnold Palmer’ and hosts The King’s tournament every year. He also does his bit to raise money for not only the beneficiaries of that event but also many others, including Els for Autism. The videos of the Big Easy bear-hugging his junior counterpart when he aced a hole, resulting in a million-dollar donation to his cause, went viral.
That’s Fowler. He’s got viral appeal as one of the game’s (really) good guys. He’s making a brilliant living doing it – over $32.3-million as at the middle of April – and has the same number of wins on the PGA Tour (four) as Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace combined. Not bad for the guy many want to label a fashionista rather than a serious contender.
He makes Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams on merit and has missed just seven cuts in 33 starts, only missing a runner-up finish at The PGA Championship to match Oosthuizen as completing the runner-up slam in Majors.
At 29, he’s got four more years to win a Major before the age Phil Mickelson won his first one and there’s little doubt in the minds of his peers and the top analysts around the world that he’ll eventually get it done. I’m banking on it being sooner than Sergio Garcia did it and I’m also banking that when he does, it’ll be the most viral news he’s ever created.
Sport, and those you put on a pedestal for playing it in a way you envy or appreciate, is important. It’s good to have a favourite player; it keeps you interested in a way Superbru has done for Super Rugby.
It’s up to you if you want to name your dog after your idol – I did. Didn’t Rory do the same with his, Ernie Els?
Picking Fowler was a personal choice but I still don’t know why. It’s been enjoyable and frustrating in equal measures.
Not for him, though. He takes each win like he does a loss, with a grin and a level head as he moves on to his next meeting; be it with his team, his production company or a lesson with a group of youngsters. Arnold Palmer would be proud.
EARNINGS SINCE TURNING PRO
2009: $571 090
2010: $2 857 109
2011: $2 084 681
2012: $3 066 293
2013: $1 816 742
2014: $4 806 117
2015: $5 773 430
2016: $2 713 563
2017: $6 083 197
2018: $2 624 060
– This article first appeared in the May issue of Compleat Golfer
