A washout at the PGA Tour Viking Classic and an extra week off did not slow down 20-year old Rickie Fowler one bit. The Titleist Brand Ambassador fired an opening round 66 at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, birdieing five of the final six holes to post an incoming 31. Fowler, who turns 21 on December 13th, has now shot in the 60s in his first nine rounds as a professional on the PGA TOUR.
The big-hitting Fowler was 4th in driving distance in his last event two weeks ago at the Frys.com Open, but it was a chip-in on the 18th yesterday that capped his stellar first round.
Fowler credits his long time coach with teaching him the technique that is now a real strength in his game.
“I worked on a lot of short game, putting and chipping, with my coach Barry McDonald back home at the driving range I grew up at,” said Fowler. “I started working with him when I was seven years old, and then through middle school is when I really got the technique down. I maintained that technique and learned to hit different shots, but that was really what I worked on the most and it’s definitely helped out now.”
Rickie sat down with the Golf Channel to recap both his first round performance and the blistering start to his professional career. Click here to watch the video.
November 13th, 2009
Fairhaven, MA (November 5, 2009) – Titleist, Golf’s Symbol of Excellence, announced that it has produced a Public Service Announcement featuring professional tour player Erik Compton and PGA Golf Professional Mike Gibson, that celebrates the lives of those who have overcome physical challenges and found sources of inspiration through the game of golf. Compton and Gibson have both overcome life-threatening obstacles to succeed at their respective professions in golf. In addition to the Public Service Announcement, Titleist has launched pages on its company website and Facebook.
Erik Compton and Mike Gibson
“Erik and Mike are true ambassadors, not only for the Titleist brand, but for the game of golf,” said Wally Uihlein, Chairman and CEO, Acushnet Company. “We have had a relationship with both men for a number of years and continue to be inspired by their life stories. We wanted to provide an outlet and opportunity for them to share their backgrounds and hopefully inspire others that anything is possible through the great game of golf.”
The PSA features both Erik and Mike who share their inspirational stories in a sixty-second video message that is currently airing during PGA TOUR coverage on the Golf Channel. The PSA video, individual video messages, biographies and other information also can be found on the Titleist website: http://titleist.com/inspiration.
In addition, Titleist has posted a Facebook page inviting visitors to share their own stories, pictures and videos, or those of others who have used golf as a vehicle to overcome physical challenges. The Facebook page can be accessed through the Titleist website, or directly at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Titleist-Inspiration/138102734279
Erik Compton has secured the final sponsors exemption from the Children’s Miracle Network Classic and will participate in the season-ending PGA TOUR event next week. It is a miracle that Compton, who turns 30 years old on November 11, is even able to tee it up at the event that takes place at Walt Disney World Resort. Compton is on his third heart.
At the age of nine, Compton was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood. Three years later he received his first heart transplant. Compton went on to become the top-ranked junior golfer in the country, attended the University of Georgia where he earned All-America status, and was named to the 2001 Walker Cup team. In 2007, while playing a Nationwide Tour event, Compton suffered a major heart attack. He eventually underwent a 14-hour surgery to implant a second new heart.
Just five and a half months after his surgery, Compton participated in the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network Classic where he shocked the golf world by making the cut. Today, Compton is married and the father of a baby girl, and is also playing competitive golf at the highest level. Last week he advanced through the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying, firing a final round 66 to win his site by seven shots.
Compton is scheduled to visit the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando on Tuesday where he will share his story with the young patients.
To learn more about Erik and his inspirational story, please visit: http://titleist.com/inspiration.
To learn more about the Children’s Miracle Network Classic, please visit: http://www.childrensmiraclenetworkclassic.com/
To send a message to Erik Compton, visit: http://facebook.com/titleistinspiration or
http://facebook.com/titleist
November 5th, 2009
