Rickie Fowler to use Packers-colored bag at U.S. Open

Rickie Fowler usually draws some attention for his wardrobe, but next week at the U.S. Open his bag will surely appeal to Wisconsin golf fans.

Rickie Fowler is one of the more popular players on the PGA Tour, thanks to his mix of youth, talent and an exciting wardrobe. He’ll of course be taking part in the 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin, Wisconsin next week, playing the first two rounds of the tournament with Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama.

In Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers are the No. 1 team in any of the major sports. Fall Sundays are basically holidays, and as it were Erin Hills is 35 miles away from Milwaukee and not all that far from Green Bay in eastern Wisconsin.

Fowler, with his choice of color for his golf bag, is surely trying to get attention from the local crowd.

Fowler typically uses an orange Cobra bag, which would be appropriate if the U.S. Open were being played near Cincinnati or Cleveland. The legendary Payne Stewart had a tradition of using the colors of the local NFL team for his trademark Scottish-style wardrobe at tournaments, as part of his sponsorship with the league. So Fowler is taking a page from that with his Packers-colored bag.

After Sergio Garcia’s win at the The Masters this spring, Fowler has a claim to the title of “best player to never win a major” right now. He has two top-10 finishes in eight previous U.S. Opens (2008-2009, 2011-2016). In his best finish, he tied for second behind winner Martin Kaymer in 2014.

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But Fowler has missed the cut in each of the two U.S. Opens since that runner-up finish, and he has not finished in the top 10 at any major since doing so in all four of them in 2014. So maybe a brand-new bag can bring better fortune on a big stage next week.