How Rickie Fowler’s motocross past helped develop golf game: ‘Taking risks and having fun’
Rickie Fowler has always been behind the wheel.
Coincidentally, his “seat” is now the biggest club in the golf bag – and his dirt road has turned to grass. But before Fowler patrolled the green, he experienced the wild ride of motorsport.
On the surface, it’s hard to imagine that there are two sports further apart on the spectrum. Motorsport is loud, loose and chaotic like unsupervised children on a summer Friday night. Golf is calm, organized and quiet like a fancy restaurant with a dress code.
Fans who’ve followed Fowler’s career know that he didn’t fit the looks of a golfer. The flat-brimmed, backward-facing hat, mirrored sunglasses, and long hair don’t convey that message. His looks have changed a bit over time – most notably with a shorter haircut, but the rebel remains in Fowler.
MORE: Has Rickie Fowler Ever Won a Major?
Now he’s in a familiar place at the US Open – the driver’s seat. After a historic opening lap, Fowler heads into the weekend as the talk of the town. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, however. Rebels have always had a place in Hollywood.
Sporting News looks back at Rickie Fowler’s fascinating sporting history.
Was Rickie Fowler a motocross rider?
Back in the day, Fowler was never far from a dirt bike. Many say it was his first love. The smell of gasoline and the sounds of roaring engines made Fowler’s career away from the golf course clear.
It seemed like he was destined to spend a lifetime drinking Monster Energy and kicking up dirt while leaping off mountainous hills – always walking the fine line between recklessness and glory.
Fowler’s father, Rod, was a fan of the sport, which had an impact on the young driver. But by the time his teenage years were over, it was clear Fowler wasn’t going to stick with that landing.
Why did Rickie Fowler leave motocross?
At the age of 15, Fowler had to wave the red flag when there was a rut that would end his racing career. There would be no more motos, no more falls and no more thrilling rides through the berms. Instead, Fowler would be relegated to the pits and driving much, much slower.
He would break his leg in three places and give up the race. Fowler instead chose golf, his second love. You always remember your first gig, though, and Fowler hasn’t forgotten that. He then incorporated motocross into his golf commercials and never missed a chance to watch a race.
Fowler is one of those weird, loose connections that connect the two opposite sports.
How did Rickie Fowler become a golfer?
As soon as motocross was in the rearview mirror, golf appeared in the windshield. The overall picture was that he was an able golfer who needed to hone some skills – skills that came with racing.
“Motocross has made me a little fearless on the track,” Fowler said in a 2010 interview with Golf Digest. “I’ve now taken the more conservative route on the bike, but I still take risks and have fun on the golf course.”
It’s a style that has proven fruitful for the 34-year-old, who was once in the top five among golfers around the world. He’s fallen to 45th in the world rankings in recent years but could climb even further with a win at the US Open.
MORE: Who is Rickie Fowler’s caddy?
And Fowler has no problem reaching new heights in unorthodox ways.
“I mean, when you’re judging a jump on a dirt bike, you don’t have to worry,” he said. “You have to be fully committed. If you don’t do that, a lot of things can go wrong. And when something goes wrong on the bike, it’s a lot worse than when something goes wrong on the golf course. Once you commit, you can just.” Go. The same goes for a golf swing.
Even if Fowler slows down, a racer’s heart lives on – even if the sport passes him by. But luckily for Fowler, he’s still a fan and can’t cash checks during slow play on the links.
That’s a landing he managed.