For the better part of a decade, Rickie Fowler has made a name for himself as one of the most sartorially savvy players on the PGA Tour, and few pros have more frequently paid tribute through fashion.
Witness Thursday at the BMW Championship, where Fowler showcased a pair of custom-designed Pumas to honor his late friend, Jarrod Lyle, who died of acute myeloid leukemia on the eve of the PGA Championship.
.@RickieFowler will be paying tribute to his late friend Jarrod Lyle today in the opening round of the @BMWchamps. He’s wearing custom shoes in Jarrod’s traditional yellow with the dates of his life on the tongue. pic.twitter.com/yaPN14vJIv
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) September 6, 2018
Yellow was Lyle’s signature color in competition. After learning of Lyle’s death, Fowler also wore yellow on during the first round of the PGA Championship at Bellerive.
.@RickieFowler was supposed to wear blue today. He went with yellow instead. pic.twitter.com/NEvKPUimdO
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 9, 2018
Earlier this year, one of Fowler’s youngest superfans, Griffin Connell, passed away after a battle with a rare complex airway disorder, and Fowler wore a photo of Connell on his hat for the duration of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Back in 2017, Fowler honored the life and legacy of Arnold Palmer with a pair of custom Puma golf shoes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
He donned yet another custom pair — and a matching hat — for the tournament this year.
Looks like @RickieFowler is bringing the heat @APinv this week. #ArniesArmy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2018
At the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, Fowler used a green and yellow Green Bay Packers-themed bag as a tribute to the local team.
Rickie Fowler’s bag. He’s no dummy. #GoPack pic.twitter.com/6M166s39DK
— Teddy Greenstein (@TeddyGreenstein) June 15, 2017
Way back in 2014, Fowler honored the late Payne Stewart by wearing plus fours and argyle socks during the first round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst — the site of Stewart’s final major victory before his death.
Rickie Fowler is paying tribute to Payne Stewart today at Pinehurst No. 2. #USOpen #Payne pic.twitter.com/oG1mYDpgos
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) June 12, 2014
And if you’ve ever wondered why Fowler wears orange on Sunday, that’s a tribute to his college alma mater, Oklahoma State University.
