Rickie Fowler proves yet again why the golf world loves him
American honours "his No.1 fan" who passed away last week aged 7.
Rickie Fowler wore some extra motivation on his hat during the opening round of the Phoenix Open.
Just next to the new Puma “P” above his forehead was a picture of a young fan, dressed in Fowler’s familiar bright orange, under the phrase, “thumbs up.”
The child in the picture was Griffin Connell, a Scottsdale-area resident who passed away last week at age 7 after battling a complex airway disorder. Connell first met Fowler back in 2013, and he had made regular appearances at this tournament in the years since to support his favorite player.
Prior to an opening-round 66, Fowler posted to his Instagram account that the week “won’t be the same” without Connell there to greet him after the round.
“He was just a huge fan of the game,” Fowler said. “I claim him as being my No.1 fan, so he had a special place with me and (caddie) Joe (Skovron). We looked forward to seeing him and the family every week out here at the tournament every year, so it’s unfortunate that we don’t have him here this week because he was fun to see.”
Connell endured multiple surgeries over the years and his obituary described him as “an inspiration to all with his larger than life personality and unwavering determination.”
“It just makes you appreciate the position that a lot of us are in,” Fowler said. “Even if I hit a bad shot out there the past years, you would look over and see him. He was just pumped and excited to be out there watching us, and it just puts things into perspective.”
Fowler was recently named best mannered person in the world' in a new poll.
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