Las Vegas, Nevada (November 13, 2010)–Las Vegas Golf Region resident Rickie Fowler has made a big splash in his first year on the PGA Tour, and could end up with a Rookie of the Year trophy for his efforts. Fowler will have always have strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses–he made his PGA Tour professional debut at the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and bought a home in Las Vegas that same year–but it appears that he has made a move to Florida, leaving the large total fraternity of tour pros with strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses with one less member. LIVE SCORING. –By Brian Hurlburt.
The inside word during Las Vegas' recent PGA Tour event was that Fowler, who grew up in California, had purchased a home in Florida and was making a move. And now with the PGA Tour hitting the state this week, Fowler has openly discussed his plans for Florida. Fowler also admitted that part of the reason for living in Las Vegas and Florida is because there is no state income tax, but he did become a part of the Las Vegas community while here, spending a lot of time at Las Vegas golf courses TPC Summerlin and TPC Las Vegas. Plus taking advantage of the many things Las Vegas has to offer. "I was already in Vegas," Fowler told the media following the first round of the Children's Miracle Netowrk. "I had a condo in Vegas, so tax purposes (are important), and obviously I would like to stay state-income-tax-free, so we were looking between Vegas, Dallas, and my pick in Florida was Jupiter since I had spent some time down there. And the travel out of Dallas and Florida are both really good with the Tour mainly being the East Coast. And I like to fish in the off time. And there is good weather all year down in Jupiter. So we got a good deal on a house with water access. So I think jet skis are on order right now, and possibly boat in the future. If not, I'll just use our buddy, who's a charter. So it's a good spot to kind of kick back and relax. I'm looking forward to spending some off-season time there."
The Las Vegas Golf Region is the home to about 30 tour golfers who have strong ties to Las Vegas golf courses. Among those who live here, lived here for a long period of time or played at UNLV are Adam Scott, Charley Hoffman, Tommy Armour III, Jim Colbert, Natalie Gulbis, Inbee Park and many others. And besides the two TPC golf courses in Las Vegas, the region is the home to more than 50 golf courses. TPC Las Vegas is a resort Las Vegas golf courses that is referred to as the home of pro golf in Las Vegas because most of the tour pros play and practice there, and the course has hosted events on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. You can click now to view the official website of TPC Las Vegas golf course where you can reserve your tee times in Las Vegas and find the best Las Vegas golf rates for TPC Las Vegas.
Fowler was among several tour pros with strong ties to Las Vegas playing in the Children's Miracle Network. But he had more on the line that most as he was in the running for the million-dollar prize that comes with winning the season-long Kodak Challenge. Fowler made a birdie on the 17th hole of Disney's Magnolia Course and is now in a three-way tie with Troy Merritt and Aaron Baddely. All three are in the field this weekend and both Baddely and Merritt can take the lead if they make a birdie on the hole. Fowler will need to knock in an iron for eagle on the par 4 to improve his status to 19-under par. A playoff will take place on the 17th hole shoud there be a tie between any of the competitors.
"It's been fun all year," said Fowler about the Kodak Challenge heading into the CMN Classic. "I'd say about halfway through is when I started to think about it. I was in the lead, had a couple of times where I had a couple-shot lead. And it's been pretty fun to obviously try and make birdies on a weekly basis on a certain hole. And up until Troy made that eagle on 16 at Vegas, I was leading for a lot of the year." Merritt eagled the par 5 16th hole at the TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas a few weeks ago to take the lead.