A Fan Called Rickie Fowler a 'Coward' at the British Open For Dropping Leeds United Investment

Fowler was heckled by a fan at Royal Liverpool—a first for the six-time PGA Tour winner.

It isn’t particularly common to hear a heckler targeting a specific player at a major championship like the British Open. It’s even rarer for a heckler to direct anger toward Rickie Fowler, a general fan-favorite known for being one of the nicest players on the PGA Tour. 

But this boisterous spectator at Royal Liverpool shouted at Fowler on Thursday for something that he did—or perhaps didn’t do—but it had nothing to do with his golf abilities or career.

According to No Laying Up’s Kevin Van Valkenberg, Fowler heard a fan call him a “coward” during the first round of the Open. But the reason for the fan’s choice of words was peculiar: Fowler wasn’t a “coward” for any of the shots he hit at Royal Liverpool, but because he didn’t go through with an investment in Leeds United. 

Earlier this month, Jordan Spieth told Sky Sports that he would be investing in the English soccer team along with his friend and fellow major champion, Justin Thomas. But during the interview, Spieth noted that Fowler decided against joining in on the deal when the team was relegated from the Premier league. 

Chatted with Rickie Fowler after his round. Asked him about being heckled by a fan, something he believed was a first. “He called me a coward for not going through with my Leeds investment,” Fowler said. “That’s a first. Maybe he should put up his own money.”

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) July 20, 2023

Fowler made sure to snap back at the heckler with this perfectly respectful, but fitting response: “He called me a coward for not going through with my Leeds investment. That’s a first. Maybe he should put up his own money.”