Rickie Fowler hasn’t been able to claim victories in recent years. His last win came at the 2023 Rocket Mortgage Classic. And before that, he won the 2019 WM Phoenix Open. Yet, he won the 2026 Arnie Award. 

But this honor isn’t about stacking wins. Presented by GolfDigest, it’s about how a player honors golf. Arnold Palmer built bridges to the fans, aspiring golfers, and people in need. And Fowler has been doing the same despite his on-course struggles. 

Fowler even got endorsed by Sam Saunders, Palmer’s grandson. “Rickie gives back with so much of himself, somehow making time for everyone,” he said. “He thinks about the game holistically instead of just what it can do for him, just as my granddad did. He carries that torch very well.”

Additionally, Fowler has carried Palmer through his outfits. Since 2017, at Bay Hill, Fowler has donned Puma shoes and clothes that commemorate the legend. Of course, he has that iconic umbrella emblazoned on his clothes. But it’s his ‘giving back’ attitude that brought him the Arnie Award. 

He has been raising funds to help the charities that Palmer set up before passing away on the eve of the 2016 Ryder Cup. His own foundation also helps make the game accessible to young people who couldn’t afford to play in tournaments. 

Following the events, he often stays back to interact with the media and other players. And how can we forget his first Arnold Palmer order at the Ryder Cup, soon after Palmer’s passing? It was also he who carried the USA’s winning trophy to the memorial service for Palmer. 

Reflecting on that, the six-time PGA Tour winner said, “Since we lost Arnie, giving back has become more meaningful because he knew how to do that better than anyone else.”

But do you know what Fowler said after receiving the honor?

Rickie Fowler Gets Honest Upon Receiving the Arnie Award

Looking back at the lessons from Palmer, Fowler said, “Arnie really cared about his fans, and I watched him always react to them just by being himself. Seeing that told me that the best way to 

handle a lot of attention was to continue being myself.” 

And that makes the interaction way more real. But his impact is better seen with children.

At the current stage of his career, Rickie Fowler comes across people and makes an impact through mere five or 20-second contacts multiple years ago. And that has given him a better understanding of who Arnold Palmer was and what exactly he did. 

Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu