So Koepka doesn't get enough love; but does Fowler get too much.

[Warrick]

I am a bit biased with him, he is a Nole, plays Mizuno, and fits the mold of players I like "ball strikers"

 

Faldo

Sergio

Stenson

Rory

[nix]

While I don't really enjoy either koepka or DJ. I'm happy to know there are people out there who are fans of them. They definitely deserve a bigger fan base. I just don't see myself being one of them.

[Sixcat]

Koepka reminds me of Pete Sampras. Indifferent in regular Tour events but an assassin in the majors while being a bit undervalued and underappreciated by mainstream media and fans.

[Vindog]

Koepka reminds me of Pete Sampras. Indifferent in regular Tour events but an assassin in the majors while being a bit undervalued and underappreciated by mainstream media and fans.

 

Right? And when you say his name with an English or even and Aussie accent it always sounded really cool.

 

“Sahmprahs”. Probably why he didn’t do much Stateside. Zero name flair.

[dpb5031]

I am a bit biased with him, he is a Nole, plays Mizuno, and fits the mold of players I like "ball strikers"

 

Faldo

Sergio

Stenson

Rory

 

Rickie is no slouch as a ball striker either. He's long, can work it reliably both ways, and has excellent trajectory control, flighting it at will. He will eventually break through in a major

[jacobEDGE]

Rickie waits around every Sunday to be the first to congratulate the winner on their walk to the scoring trailer. Doesn't matter if he was the first group out Sunday morning. He'll stay there for hours, and always pop up to give a high five. He's one of the most genuine, nice guys on Tour.

 

So nah, I don't think he gets too much love. I don't think it's possible to give him too much love. He's the most likable player in golf.

[andrieddle]

Let's ask this simple question and try to answer honestly:

 

Who would I rather spend Saturday with on a golf course?

 

I'll play with Rickie anytime. And I think at the end of it all, for most of us, it's to have fun playing golf, and people will rather play golf with Rickie than Brooks because he's more fun and that's why people are drawn to him.

 

Patrick Reed can win a grand slam and he still won't be getting as much love as Rickie without any major.

[MarkFromTheUK]

I love the fact that Koepka keeps himself to himself. Proof that you don’t need to be a social media narcissist in order to be successful at sports.

[toddnt]

Personality counts for so much in who people love. Koepka has little, Ricky has tons.

 

 

Brooks has 3 Majors, Rickie has none....

Add in a lock for HOF!

[TigerTom]

Fowler's got 8 professional wins and he's been competitive in several majors. So there is some substance to go with the style.

 

There is definitely substance in his game. Not taking away from his winning the Players, Deutch Bank and a couple others. And he is currently ranked 9th OWGR. While that is no small feat it is also not notable or even memorable.

 

Media and networks drool over him as if he is still a rookie ready to blow up the golf scene when he has been around for a while and so far his greatest impact has been on golf attire.

 

And can't say I love the duck bill cap or the bright orange – but that is neither here nor there.

 

So, being the 9th best golfer (by ranking) on the entire planet, out of countless millions who play this game, isn't noteable? lol, what's your OWGR sitting at currently? 8 or better?

 

No one is saying he isn’t a great player. The question is whether he should keep being discussed in the same group as JT, Spieth, Rory, DJ or even Koepka.

 

In my book to be a noteable you have to win. Simple as that. If not a couple Majors then a bunch of regular events. Top 10 finishes are great to rake in the cash and climb the OWGR but it doesn’t make you memorable.

[nix]

I love the fact that Koepka keeps himself to himself. Proof that you don’t need to be a social media narcissist in order to be successful at sports.

 

It's also proof that if you want to have legions of fans and endorsement deals it takes more than being successful at sports.

[nezander]

I love the fact that Koepka keeps himself to himself. Proof that you don’t need to be a social media narcissist in order to be successful at sports.

 

It's also proof that if you want to have legions of fans and endorsement deals it takes more than being successful at sports.

 

 

Fowler ( and most other pro golfers ) would trade places with Koepka in a heartbeat. You probably couldn't pay Koepka enough to trade places with Fowler..

[Cincy_Ken]

I love the fact that Koepka keeps himself to himself. Proof that you don’t need to be a social media narcissist in order to be successful at sports.

 

It's also proof that if you want to have legions of fans and endorsement deals it takes more than being successful at sports.

 

 

Fowler ( and most other pro golfers ) would trade places with Koepka in a heartbeat. You probably couldn't pay Koepka enough to trade places with Fowler..

 

I kind of doubt it. He'd be giving up a lot of money to do it. I'm not trying to say Rickies greedy but pro athletes always keep an eye on the bottom line.

[Naptime]

Before this year, BK didn't have much going beyond 1 major and a wrist injury (skipped the Masters). Wasn't a lot to stand out against the usual headliners. We will see how he performs with a lot more attention and higher expectations next year. He needs to stay healthy. Ricky has a marketing "style" that appeals to some folks. Bright orange and a flat brim hat is a younger demographic and he rode it for a few years, but personally I prefer the current look. Maybe he will win a major, I think it will come late in his career like Sergio or O'Meara or Kite etc. I do think Dan Marino would trade a few passing records for a Super Bowl ring. BK is like Nick Foles, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, and other QBs who aren't HOF level QBs, but they won the big game.

[ex0dus]

Fowler's got 8 professional wins and he's been competitive in several majors. So there is some substance to go with the style.

 

 

He's also been top 10 in the world rankings every year since 2014.

 

I believe this is the first year Koepka has been in the top 10.

[ryanarneson]

The correlation between absolute on the field success of an athlete/team and the amount of love/hype/press they 'deserve' is tenuous at best.

 

How much "love" is appropriate? The winner already has the trophy, the stat, the tourney purse. Whether they get "love" or not doesn't alter those facts one bit.

 

Koepka picked up a nice trophy and a nice check on Sunday due to his efforts on the course. His specific efforts there earned him that. Why exactly is he entitled to anything else?

 

Rickie's efforts in being media/fan friendly, personable and outgoing get him love/press/hype. Why isn't he entitled to that?

[Darth Putter]

Koepka reminds me of Pete Sampras. Indifferent in regular Tour events but an assassin in the majors while being a bit undervalued and underappreciated by mainstream media and fans.

 

So Rickie should aim to be Andre "image is everything" Agassi then.

 

He might very well end up as an Andy Roddick. Popular, Hall of Famer, 32 titles, but just one Grand Slam. (He had a good excuse, the GOAT kept getting in the way)

[Vindog]

Before this year, BK didn't have much going beyond 1 major and a wrist injury (skipped the Masters). Wasn't a lot to stand out against the usual headliners. We will see how he performs with a lot more attention and higher expectations next year. He needs to stay healthy. Ricky has a marketing "style" that appeals to some folks. Bright orange and a flat brim hat is a younger demographic and he rode it for a few years, but personally I prefer the current look. Maybe he will win a major, I think it will come late in his career like Sergio or O'Meara or Kite etc. I do think Dan Marino would trade a few passing records for a Super Bowl ring. BK is like Nick Foles, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, and other QBs who aren't HOF level QBs, but they won the big game.

 

Be careful. I already made the "he has expectations" mistake.

 

It didn't work out so well.

[Bad9]

I like Rickie. I'd like to see him win more than he does.

 

The networks, and it seems to me, especially Jim Nantz, drool over him, practically begging the gods to make him better than he evidently is.

 

In the meantime, the real diehard Rickie fans have to be satisfied with his "style".

 

Don't underestimate Nantz. He got Couples into the HOF, he'll get Rickie his major.

[dlygrisse]

Lets be honest DJ doesnt have much of a personality either but they continue to interview him all the time.

Does grunting and mumbling count as an interview?

[Bad9]

the fact he went an entire season and was T-5 or better in every major shows there is substance.

 

 

 

And of those top5's in 2014 it was only once where he was a factor on the back 9. I like to say his 2nd place at Pinehurst was as relevant to the tournament outcome as Els' was at Pebble in 2000

[Pent08]

Fowler is a more talented version of Paul Casey. Exceptionally likeable, but a different player when within 3 strokes of the lead on Sunday. Despite this, he always had the biggest crowds when I'd watch him at Colonial. Well, until Spieth came along.

 

I don't think there is a formula for popularity or recognizability. It's a skill you can't teach, and I've never understood the root causes unless your name is Paige Spiranic.

[straightshot7]

We've had way more exposure to Rickie.

 

He's played more than 2 times as many PGA Tour tournaments as Brooks. He has 62 top 10's to Brooks' 29.

 

Rickie has obviously embraced his marketing opportunities so we now see him plastered on commercials that get played constantly.

 

For Brooks to be known and beloved by the average fan he needs more exposure. He can't just pop up at the majors.

 

But, I'm sure he doesn't care.

[Darth Putter]

Lets be honest DJ doesnt have much of a personality either but they continue to interview him all the time.

Does grunting and mumbling count as an interview?

 

[BrandonDunes]

[PostandGhost]

Brooks not need love.

 

Brooks hit ball far.

 

Brooks likes Majors.

 

Brooks smash ball when he get angry.

[Vindog]

Fowler is a more talented version of Paul Casey. Exceptionally likeable, but a different player when within 3 strokes of the lead on Sunday. Despite this, he always had the biggest crowds when I'd watch him at Colonial. Well, until Spieth came along.

 

I don't think there is a formula for popularity or recognizability. It's a skill you can't teach, and I've never understood the root causes unless your name is Paige Spiranic.

 

Wait wait wait

 

Paul Casey is likeable? You mean Paul Casey the golfer? A good looking chap with a nice smile, but he has a very inflated view of himself, has turned bratty in pressers and whines to his caddy about "terrible numbers."

[Cincy_Ken]

I think on the course the Casey comparison is spot on. Paul had some down years but was #3 in the world at one time. Winning is a skill that Paul Casey is lacking relative to his overall golf ability and Fowler is trending that way as well.

[lowheel]

The day we stop putting Rickie on the list of notables is probably the day he wins his major. We see what happened when he was named one of the most overrated players...he went and won the Players.

 

Hes still been called that since that week.Hows his record been since then?

[Twism86]

Fowler is simply one of the best players today who has yet to win a Major. Thats why he gets the attention because he has earned it and everyone knows he has the potential to win big. He doesnt get enough TV time in tournaments IMHO.

 

Everyone said the same thing about Sergio too, one of the best not to win a Major, well....... History will always repeat itself and Fowler's is going to come soon.