Sometimes, a friend’s perspective can illuminate truths that statistics and expert analysis miss entirely! And when your friendship is like Rickie Fowler’s and Lexi Thompson’s, it’s just extra special. Their bond strengthened significantly when they teamed up for the Grant Thornton Invitational in both 2023 and 2024. The mixed-team event provided a perfect showcase for their natural chemistry both on and off the course. The 2024 tournament held special significance as it marked Thompson’s final event as a full-time player and coincided with Fowler’s 36th birthday. In a touching display of their friendship, Thompson surprised Fowler with “a cute little orange cake.”
More insight into their friendship was on full display when LPGA star Lexi Thompson and PGA Tour veteran Rickie Fowler sat down together for GOLF’s podcast “The Scoop” with Claire Rogers. Though neither could pinpoint exactly when they first met, their friendship has deep roots. “It was probably at a photo shoot somewhere,” Fowler suggested with a smile. “I don’t know the number of shoots we’ve done together—a lot.” Indeed, their relationship dates back to Thompson’s earliest professional days when she signed with the same sponsor (PUMA) after turning pro at just 15 years old.
When asked what she admired about Fowler’s game, Thompson didn’t hesitate to highlight his mental strength. “I love watching his game because it looks just so free and so easy,” Thompson explained. “It doesn’t look like he’s overthinking anything. It’s just like a kind of natural raw talent.” The 14-time LPGA Tour winner then added the observation that stands out most: “I never really see him too upset out there.”
This comment reveals a quality that casual observers might miss—Fowler’s extraordinary composure regardless of circumstances. While many players visibly struggle with their emotions during difficult rounds, throwing clubs or displaying frustration, Fowler has maintained a calm, methodical approach throughout his career. This mental fortitude becomes all the more impressive when considering the roller-coaster journey he’s experienced.
Fowler, for his part, had equally complimentary things to say about Thompson. “She’s out there and seems to come across like fearless, like just wants to go get it done,” he remarked about the recent LPGA retiree. Then he added with admiration, “Part of my French, but she works her ass off.”
Thompson observes Fowler’s composure as even more significant when considering the major performance challenges he has faced in recent years.
The performance slump testing Rickie Fowler’s renowned composure
Recent years have certainly put the mental fortitude Thompson admires to the test. Since his dramatic victory at THE PLAYERS Championship in 2015, where he birdied the infamous island green 17th hole an incredible five times and mounted a six-shot comeback in the final round, Fowler has faced a heartbreaking decline.
Following that career peak, his performance gradually deteriorated—from multiple wins and consistent top-10 finishes to a devastating slump beginning in 2020. During this difficult period, he barely retained his Tour card by finishing 125th in the 2022 FedEx Cup, and despite a brief resurgence with his 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic win, his recent showing at the 2025 PLAYERS Championship (where he shot promising rounds of 68-66) stands in stark contrast to his current world ranking of 97th.
Through it all, Fowler has maintained the composed demeanor that Thompson so accurately identified. His ranking may have plummeted from a career-high of 4th in the world to his current position outside the top 90, but his approach to adversity remains consistent, and always conducts himself with professionalism, even during his most disappointing performances.
As both players navigate different stages in their careers—Thompson stepping back from full-time competition and Fowler working to reclaim his former standing—their friendship reminds us of golf’s capacity to forge lasting connections.
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