Winner of The Players Championship in 2015 and six PGA Tour events, and a five-time Ryder Cup selection, Rickie Fowler explains how he chooses his club, his alignment, and his target when hitting an iron.
Rickie Fowler has won six PGA Tour tournaments, including The Players Championship in 2015, and has represented the United States five times in the Ryder Cup. A former world No. 1 amateur, he is also one of the most creative players on the tour with an iron in his hand. Here is his biography, his list of achievements, and a summary of his video lesson.
Who is Rickie Fowler?
Rickie Fowler is an American golfer born on December 13, 1988, in Murrieta, California. As a student at Oklahoma State University, he was ranked No. 1 in the world among amateurs for 36 weeks in 2007 and 2008, received the 2008 Ben Hogan Award, and won two Walker Cups with the United States. He turned pro in 2009 and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2010.
His first victory on the pro tour came in 2011 at the Korea Open, where he finished six strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy. He did it again against the same opponent in 2012, in the playoff of the Wells Fargo Championship, to claim his first PGA Tour title. In 2014, he finished in the top five at all four majors that season, a feat achieved only by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods had signed before him.
His big day remains May 10, 2015, at Sawgrass: he shot 6 under par on the final six holes of The Players, including an eagle on the 16th, and went on to win in a playoff. That same year, he won the Scottish Open and the Deutsche Bank Championship, then reached his highest ranking—No. 4 in the world—in January 2016 following his victory in Abu Dhabi. He went on to win the 2017 Honda Classic, the 2019 Phoenix Open, and, in 2023, the Rocket Mortgage Classic, in a playoff against Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin. That same year, he shot a 62 at the U.S. Open, one of the lowest scores in major championship history.
A regular on the PGA Tour, he finished second at the Truist Championship in May 2026. On the course, he’s easy to spot from a distance: he often wears orange on Sundays, the color of his alma mater.
Rickie Fowler's Career Highlights
| Tournament or Record | Result |
|---|---|
| PGA Tour Victories | 6 |
| The Players Championship | 2015 (in the playoffs) |
| Other PGA Tour Victories | 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship, 2017 Honda Classic, 2019 Phoenix Open, 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic |
| Victories on the European Tour | 2: 2015 Scottish Open, 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship |
| Other Victories | 2011 Kolon Korea Open, 2017 Hero World Challenge |
| Best Results in Major Tournaments | 2nd place at the 2018 Masters; tied for 2nd place at the U.S. Open and the 2014 Open; tied for 3rd place at the 2014 PGA Championship |
| Ryder Cup | 5 appearances: 2010, 2014, 2016 (win), 2018, 2023 |
| Presidents Cup | 3 appearances, 3 wins: 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Olympic Games | Rio 2016 |
| Highest world ranking | 4th (January 2016) |
| Awards | 2008 Ben Hogan Award, 2010 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year |
Rickie Fowler's set of irons
In his lesson with Nelly Korda, in a video produced for TaylorMade, Rickie Fowler explains how he chooses his shot when faced with three pin positions ranging from 179 to 193 yards, with a left-to-right wind. Taking on a flag with Nelly Korda and Rickie Fowler.
A basic move, but with all the options
While Nelly Korda plays only a draw, Rickie Fowler says he plays his best golf when he can do anything with the ball. His go-to shot remains a slight draw. When facing a pin in unfamiliar terrain, he plays straight; if he knows he has room on the left, he starts to the left and lets the breeze carry the ball back.
Club Selection and Intermediate Goals
At the back flag, 193 yards away, he hits a hard 7-iron to avoid overshooting: at this distance, finishing the hole in three strokes is already a good result. Before taking his swing, he picks an intermediate target just in front of him—a sprinkler head or a divot—and then focuses solely on the start line and the shot shape.
Just one thought, and reading the green
Rickie Fowler simply thinks “draw”: trying to force a draw is overdoing it. To attack a pin at the back of the green, he wants to know the distance to the back of the green and how firm it is. On a firm green, hitting the ball all the way to the pin becomes risky.
Rickie Fowler's Lessons on Best Golf Tips
- Iron and Strategy (irons, Draw or fade, Course Management, Target Focus): Taking on a flag with Nelly Korda and Rickie Fowler.
For more information, check out the fact sheets on Nelly Korda, Collin Morikawa and Butch Harmon, the coach Rickie Fowler has worked with extensively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rickie Fowler: Career Highlights, Iron Set, and Video Golf Lessons
How old is Rickie Fowler?
Rickie Fowler was born on December 13, 1988, in Murrieta, California; he is 37 years old.
How many tournaments has Rickie Fowler won on the PGA Tour?
Six: the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, the 2015 Players Championship, the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship, the 2017 Honda Classic, the 2019 Phoenix Open, and the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Has Rickie Fowler won a major tournament?
Not yet. He finished second at the 2018 Masters, tied for second at the U.S. Open and the 2014 Open, and tied for third at the 2014 PGA Championship. That year, he finished in the top 5 at all four majors.
How did Rickie Fowler win The Players in 2015?
By shooting 6 under par on his final six holes—including an eagle on the 16th—and then defeating Kevin Kisner in a playoff after eliminating Sergio García.
How many Ryder Cups has Rickie Fowler played in?
Five: 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2023. The United States won in 2016. It has also won three Presidents Cups (2015, 2017, 2019).
Where did Rickie Fowler go to school?
At Oklahoma State University, where he became the world's No. 1 amateur and received the 2008 Ben Hogan Award.
What is Rickie Fowler's highest world ranking?
Ranked No. 4 in the world, a ranking he achieved on January 24, 2016, following his victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
