Ryder Cup - US Team - Rickie Fowler

(Getty Images)

Rickie Fowler

Age: 21
Hometown: Murrieta, CA
Birthplace: Anaheim, CA
Birthdate: December 13, 1988
College: Oklahoma State
Turned Pro: 2009

RYDER CUP EXPERIENCE - Debut

PLAYER NOTES

Most everyone agrees that Fowler, arguably the most surprising of Corey Pavin's four captain's picks, will find victory on the PGA Tour soon. Until then, the rookie can take solace in his making 16 of 21 cuts, two second-place finishes, five top 10s and more than $2.3 million in earnings. No stranger to international team competition, Fowler went undefeated in four matches to help lead the United States to victory in the 2009 Walker Cup, and also starred in the 2007 Walker Cup, going 3-1 in Northern Ireland, where he was the youngest player on the victorious U.S. team. A two-time All-American at Oklahoma State University, Fowler won the Phil Mickelson Award as the nation's top freshman player. In his first start as a professional on the PGA Tour at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, he birdied the final hole to finish T7.

AND HERE is the UNITED STATES RYDER CUP TEAM:

Phil Mickelson - Age 40; Previous Ryder Cups 7

Hunter Mahan - 28; 1

Bubba Watson - 31; Debut

Jim Furyk - 40; 6

Steve Stricker - 43; 1

Dustin Johnson - 26; Debut

Jeff Overton - 27; Debut

Matt Kuchar - 32; Debut

Tiger Woods - 34; 5

Zach Johnson - 34; 1

Stewart Cink - 37; 4

Rickie Fowler - 21; Debut

It's surreal to be writing this, but in a few hours we'll be on a plane to London - and then on to a small town in Wales to attend a famous golf tournament - the Ryder Cup. We are going as "fans" of one of the Ryder Cup team members - Rickie Fowler. This came about because Scott's brother-in-law, Mark Jensen, has followed Rickie's career for the past few years. Mark is friends with and plays with Rickie's grandfather (who taught Rickie to golf). When Rickie was selected for the team, the grandparents invited Patty and Mark to go to the Ryder Cup - and suggested they bring another couple too. Since Scott will do anything to travel, he said YES immediately. And so, with barely a week's notice, we have packed our bags and we're about to take off.


My brother Doug tried to put it in perspective for me by telling me that he'd rather go to the Ryder Cup than any other sports event...including the Super Bowl. Wow.

- it's hot there -

I never wanted to be a blogger who just posted photos of family and trips - I wanted my blog to be filled with thoughtful paragraphs about philosophy and self improvement, rants on my current likes and dislikes, well-written book recommendations, favorite quotes, pictures gathered from other blogs and websites, step-by-step recipes, and tidbits of stuff I learn and want to share.

Well, all that takes time and thought and effort. When I sit down to post on my blog it's so much easier to check out other blogs and read about everyone on Facebook lol. Distraction happens. Oh well - since my blog is a form of journaling for me, it has turned into a little photo album with brief captions.

So, without further excuses, here are a few photos from a recent quick trip to Palm Springs, California. This trip came about because last year, on the cold winter night, Scott answered a telemarketer's phone call and signed up to get three free nights and a free dinner if he'd listen to a condo presentation at a Westin resort in Rancho Mirage. (We sat through two solid hours of a high-pressure sales pitch, and no, we didn't fall for it - but it took another solid hour to convince them that we really were NOT interested, and we were just there for the freebies.)

It was HOT in Palm Springs - it was definitely the off season. To cool off, we went to a beautiful little oasis in the desert called Andreas Canyon and hiked a one-mile loop. We enjoyed the huge palm trees, sparkling creek, and abundant lizards.

If there's a rock, Scott has to scramble to the top of it.


We went to a little art shop so Scott could buy some new paint brushes. And then we walked through the beautiful upscale shopping area and enjoyed some fabulous art galleries.




(An art gallery's nod to Halloween - the metal and barb wire nests were priced at $2,000.)

I walked around the corner and was excited to see an exhibit of Kent Wallis's paintings. He's President Wallis to me - our (church) stake president. I served as stake Relief Society president for three years until last month and got to know him well. I should have asked for a discount on a painting don't you think?

This is the lobby of the JW Marriott hotel. It's huge. There's a lake in the lobby with little boats that people ride in. I liked the flower centerpieces.

Free dinners!

And, finally, I have to share a photo of the full moon over the desert mountains. The September full moon is called the Full Corn Moon because that's when the native Americans knew that their corn was ready to harvest. The shades of purple and coral in the landscape beautifully complemented the gray sky and bright white moon.

climbing in the Tetons

All summer Becky, Pitt, Scott and Mike have wanted to go to the Tetons and climb the Grand. They finally found a weekend that they could all make it, and they headed to Jackson for the big climb.

Day 1. Pitt (the experienced climber and leader of the trip) is trying to decide what to do. Unfortunately the vertical sections of the Grand were icy - with snow on top, so they were advised to not climb that mountain.

They decided to hike to Amphitheater Lake while they waited for the weather to change.

Becky was so excited about the climb. She has spent the whole summer getting ready.

Deer and quail on or near the trail.

And a huge black bear, only 30 feet away.


Playing at the lake.

Looking up at the mountains to be conquered.

Oh, yes, and someone had to stay home and tend little Emmett. That was my job. I loved it.

After a day on the trail they camped and decided to climb the mountain next to the Grand - Teewinot - because no snow and ice on top.

Teewinot Mountain is the sixth highest peak in the Teton Range, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.^[1] The name of the mountain is derived from the Shoshone Native American word meaning "many pinnacles".^[2] The peak is northeast of the Grand Teton and the two are separated from one another by the Teton Glacier and Mount Owen. Teewinot Mountain rises more than 5,500 feet (1,675 m) above Jenny Lake.
Day 2. The trail to the top of Teewinot.

Sunrise in the valley.

A fellow climber took their photo at the top.

Becky and Mike - yea they made it!

Pitt at the peak.



Scott celebrates!

Grammy Camp - around the house

It has taken me forever to get the rest of my Grammy Camp photos posted. I'm just going to put them on here and the descriptions will have to wait. Grammy Camp was way way fun, and I have the cutest grandkids in the world. I'm just saying.