In February 2019, Rickie Fowler had emerged victorious. His previous caddie? Just l ast week, he won. The Presidents Cup last month was all about 20-year-old Tom Kim, but his looper also made headlines. That week, Joe Skovron, who had caddied for Fowler for 14 years before to their separation in August, started carrying Kim’s bag.
Three weeks before, Kim won the Wyndham Championship. At Quail Hollow Club, he maintained his great performance alongside Skovron. They played in all five games for a squad that fell to the Americans 17.5–12.5 and ended with a record of 2-3.
Skovron wasn’t sure whether he’d continue to caddy for Kim at the moment; he added, “You’d have to ask Tom about that,” but the pair have since received more encouraging news. With Skovron still on the bag, Kim won the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas on Sunday in his first outing since the Presidents Cup with a final-round score of 66.
On Sunday, Kim commented, “I played really solid this week; I had no bogeys for 72 holes. I think I got to give big credits to Joe, my caddie. He really kept me in it. We had a really good game plan coming into the week, and it paid off.”
But Skovron’s previous employer wasn’t there for the weekend. With a T6 at the Fortinet Championship, Fowler had a strong start to the year, but he posted back-to-back rounds of 70 in Vegas. Since they split up, this was the first time Fowler and Skovron had attended the same event.
Ahead of the Zozo Championship, Fowler remarked on Wednesday in Japan that he was “very disappointed” by his performance from the previous week in Vegas. He felt far better than his performance did. “Unfortunately, as I said, short week, weekend off, but definitely rested and ready to go over here,” said the Las Vegas resident who spent too much time in the desert there.
Fowler said that during his free time over the weekend, he worked with coach Butch Harmon and saw his loved ones. Ricky Romano is his new caddy, and Fowler expressed enthusiasm for the arrangement.
“I feel like we work really well together. Being back with Butch and I think keeping things fairly simple but some pretty significant changes, but to see the results in Napa, that was a big step forward,” Fowler said. “Excited about knowing where we’re at and where we’re heading.
“Also got a big congrats to Joe on a win last week, obviously him being on Tom’s bag,” Fowler continued. “That was cool to see. Tom’s a special player, but obviously happy for Joe as well.”
Original article posted on Golf.com
Photo Credit: Stacy Revere
