LOS ANGELES — Rickie Fowler’s routine on nearly every hole at the US Open has been the same.
Hit his tee shot. Hand his club to caddy Ricky Romano. Reach for a sticker-covered thermos.
Fowler has been religious about his hydration this year and the Jupiter resident can be seen carrying that bottle either by the screw top or between his arm and his body each day.
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“I started carrying it at the beginning of this year,” Fowler said Saturday, after shooting an even-par 70 which gives him a share of the 54-hole lead with Wyndham Clark at 10-under.
“I drink more if I’m carrying it, and it’s also heavy when it’s full, so I don’t want to necessarily throw that on Rick, my caddie, to tote that thing around. The real reason is I drink more water and electrolytes when I carry it.”
Fowler refills his thermos from the metal smart water bottles seen all around the LA Country Club. He also adds electrolyte powder.
Fowler has dressed up his bottle with a variety of stickers. One appears to be a caricature of a younger looking Fowler walking with a golf club and sporting an orange headband.
“I have a few different stickers on there, friends of friends or connections in one way,” he said.
Fowler was asked to name his favorite sticker.
“There’s a little lightbulb logo,” he said. “It’s kind of a cool logo for kind of a cool brewery in St. Louis called Side Project.”
Now Fowler is hoping he will have to find room for one more that says: “2023 US Open champion.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rickie Fowler tells us why he carries a water bottle entire round, and what’s behind the stickers