Open Championship heckler insults Rickie Fowler, calling him a 'coward'

Rickie Fowler heckled over investment in British soccer club Leeds.

Rickie Fowler recently opened up about the reason behind a heckler targeting him during The Open Championship. In a conversation with Kevin Van Valkenburg, the editorial director of "No Laying Up," Fowler discussed the incident that occurred after his round where he shot a plus-one.

A video taken by a spectator in the crowd seems to support Fowler's account of the heckling. The video shows two individuals, one of whom appears to be holding an alcoholic beverage, questioning Fowler about his involvement with the "49ers" and "Leeds," while another person labeled him a "coward."

In June, Fowler had mentioned his plans to invest alongside Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in 49ers Enterprises, the group that had acquired the British soccer club Leeds. Fowler expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating that it would be enjoyable to be a part of it. However, he also mentioned that if they were not able to participate, they would continue to support Leeds and assist in any way they could.

Unfortunately, last week, Spieth informed reporters that Fowler had withdrawn his investment after Leeds was relegated. This revelation may have contributed to the heckler's comments during The Open Championship.

Fowler had a remarkable first day at The Open, performing exceptionally well until the 18th hole. However, he encountered some difficulties on this hole, hitting the ball out of bounds twice and ultimately finishing with a triple-bogey. This setback caused him to go from being two-under par to one over.

This incident involving a heckler is not the first to make headlines in recent days. Mardy Fish, a professional tennis player, shared his own experience with a heckler during the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Fish revealed that the heckler had placed a bet on Stephen Curry to win, which may have influenced their disruptive behavior.

Overall, Fowler's revelation sheds light on the motivations behind the heckler's actions during The Open Championship. It serves as a reminder of the challenges that athletes face both on and off the field, and the impact that external factors can have on their performance.