Has there ever been a more public display of affection in golf, a sport that prides itself etiquette and decorum?
Rickie Fowler celebrated winning The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in style Sunday by passionately embracing his bikini model girlfriend, Alexis Randock, in front of the fans and TV cameras.
The victory — in a tournament widely regarded as the unofficial fifth major — is easily the biggest win of the 26-year-old Fowler’s career.
And with Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn having announced their split earlier this month, Fowler and Randock are arguably staking out a claim to be golf’s new power couple.
The steamy clinch certainly made an impression on social media, provoking a stream of Vines and memes.
Erin Walker, wife of PGA Tour player, Jimmy Walker, even got in on the act by tweeting that she and her husband needed to work on their own celebrations after Fowler and Randock’s display.
The elation felt by Fowler was perhaps understandable given he was voted golf’s most overrated player alongside England’s Ian Poulter in an anonymous poll of fellow professionals conducted by Sports illustrated earlier in the week.
With something of a point to prove, Fowler heroically clawed back a five-shot deficit Sunday, including four birdies and an eagle, on the last six holes to finish at 12-under-par and ensure a three-way playoff with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner.
After replaying the 16th, 17th, 18th and 17th again, Fowler prevailed.
“It’s amazing,” Fowler said in comments carried by the PGA Tour website. “We obviously look at this as one of the biggest tournaments we play, up against the majors.”
Addressing the Sports Illustrated poll, he added: “if there was any question, I think this right here answers anything you need to know.”
Watching her boyfriend’s comeback and then playoff from the sidelines, proved a nerve wracking experience for Randock.
“I have been nauseous, really the entire tournament, but more so the last two days,” she said.
“It’s kind of a stressful game. But it’s well worth it. He deserves this more than I could ever say. He’s an amazing guy.
“We’ve only been dating nine months. We met through a mutual friend. It’s been great. I mean, we get along so well.
“We’re like best friends. I couldn’t ask for a better relationship or a better boyfriend.”
