Tiger Woods leads entire U.S. team in embarrassing Rickie Fowler on his birthday

Rickie Fowler’s birthday came early this year. The PGA Tour veteran is in Australia playing on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, which means the celebrations for his 31st birthday, on December 13, began when it was still the evening of the 12th back home in Jupiter, Florida.

Fortunately for Fowler, despite being halfway around the world, he spent his birthday morning with a team full of fellow South Florida residents and golf buddies.

When those players were captive on the bus ride to the course Friday morning in Melbourne, team captain Tiger Woods took the opportunity to honor the occasion.

In a video shared on the official Presidents Cup Twitter account, Woods stands up and begins speaking to the team as the bus bounces along the road, beginning by noting that Fowler shares a birthday with pop star Taylor Swift, drawing laughter everyone aboard.

Woods then says, “Let’s sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Rick,” and the entire team serenades Fowler with a serviceable rendition of the familiar tune, as the birthday boy bows his head in embarrassment.

Watch the video below.

Fowler, who celebrated his wedding to Allison Stokke in October with several Tour pros in attendance, is competing at Royal Melbourne thanks to Brooks Koepka having backed out with an injury. When the top-ranked American pro withdrew from the competition, Woods chose Fowler as his fifth captain’s pick to replace him and fill out the roster.

He won’t get to relax much on his big day, though. After sitting out the first session, Fowler is paired with U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland in the final foursomes match on Day 2. They’ll face off against Cameron Smith and Sungjae Im as the Americans try to climb out of a deep 4-1 hole following the opening day of play.

Woods will try to do his part on Day 2 as well. He scheduled himself to play again in the second session alongside Justin Thomas. That duo is responsible for the U.S. team’s only point thus far. But Tiger would be more than happy if Rickie returned the favor for picking him (and singing Happy Birthday to him) by collecting a point of his own.

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