After fourteen holes in the third round of the final stage of the PGA Tour Q-school, Rickie Fowler was 10-under. He jumped on the birdie train quickly with six on the front nine to shoot 30. On the back, he continued his hot streak, carding two birdies, an eagle and a par, and took a one-stroke lead at one point. But unfortunately, as these things happen sometimes, he made some costly mistakes down the stretch and played the last four holes four-over. Still, a great round of 6-under 66.

At the halfway mark of the grueling six rounds of Q-school, Rickie is T13 with a three-day total of 8-under, four strokes behind the leaders. He’s in excellent position to secure his 2010 Tour card — the top-25 finishers receive full exempt status for next year. Rickie’s play is especially impressive given he’s a first timer.

As you may remember, Rickie almost dodged even going to Q-school by finishing in the top-125 on the 2009 PGA Tour money list. Playing in his first PGA Tour event as a professional at the JT Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, he placed T7. The following week he almost won, narrowly losing in a three-way playoff. At the end of the season, he was ranked 135th on the money list, allowing him to bypass the first and second stages of Q-school.

Most important this week, he’s having fun and maintains a relaxed and composed attitude. Yesterday he enthusiastically professed, “Two months ago, I had nothing. Now I know it will be easier for me to get starts next year and I have a place to play. In a way, this is kind of a stress-free week for me.”

Seriously! Most pros would utter just the opposite. And with Rickie’s chill, fearless temperament, look for him to take his play up another notch in the final three rounds. Go, Rickie!

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

Rickie takes us for a behind-the-scenes look at his new life as a professional golfer. In this episode, he plays in the Soboba Classic Pro-Am with his father, Rod, motocross racers (and his buddies) Jeremy McGrath and Broc Glover, and Scotty Cameron. We also get a tour of his motor home and meet his girlfriend!

Since you all liked the “Rickie is my Homeboy” T-shirts so much last time, we thought you might like another try at winning one! The first five people to answer the following questions win a shirt (one per person):

1. What are the names of Rickie’s dogs?

2. What did Pops eat at Denny’s?

3. What color hats are Rickie and Alex wearing at their “midnight snack”?

4. Who does Rickie say “makes the best putters”?

5. What years did Rod Fowler win his “World’s Best Dad” mugs from Rickie?

Drop your answers in the comments. Good luck!

After a week plagued with heavy rains and delays, the season-ending LPGA Tour Championship (finally) concluded play on Monday at Houstonian Golf & Country Club. PUMA athlete Anna Nordqvist played a remarkable final round, firing a 7-under 65 for a total 13-under to win her second LPGA tournament. She edged out world’s number-one Lorena Ochoa by two strokes.

Anna had a stellar rookie year — in June, the Swede won her first LPGA event, the LPGA Championship, a major, no less! She was also a key member of European Solheim Cup team. Now, she’s a two-time winner on the Tour.

Congratulations, Anna! We can’t wait to see what she does next season.

[Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images]

Geoff Ogilvy ended the year in fine fashion with a T4 finish at the Dubai World Championship. Among a star-studded field, Geoff fired rounds of 70-69-68-67 for a total of 14-under. He also finished sixth in the Race to Dubai rankings.

Congrats, Geoff!

[Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images AsiaPac]

20-year-old rising star Rickie Fowler is set to play in the Shark Shootout hosted by Greg Norman at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, from December 9-13.

After kicking off his professional career with two top-10 finishes in three starts, Rickie will be the youngest player in Shootout history to compete. He’s teamed up with PGA Tour veteran Chris DiMarco in the 24-player field (12 teams).  Rickie expressed his enthusiasm for the event:

I am obviously thrilled to be playing in The Shark Shootout. Greg Norman is one of the most dynamic players in our game’s history and it is very exciting to be invited to play in an event that he hosts. In addition, I have learned we will be helping raise awareness and funds for CureSearch. It will be a pleasure for me to assist this organization and the tournament as they both seek ways to benefit the lives of children not as fortunate as me.

The tournament will feature a modified alternate shot format during the first round, best ball on Saturday and concludes with a scramble on Sunday. Other bold-faced names competing include Fred Couples, Kenny Perry, Ian Poulter, Zach Johnson, Brian Gay, Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker.

We can’t wait to see Rickie grind it out and vie for the title!

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

We spent the season racing to Dubai. And we are finally there.

The Race concludes with The Dubai World Championships, which takes place at the Earth course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The elite field consists of the top 60 money winners on the European Tour. The players aren’t just competing for the tournament trophy — the top 15 cumulative earners will split the $7.5 million bonus pool.

PUMA athletes Geoff Ogilvy and Johan Edfors are among the competitors vying for both prizes. Playing in only 12 events, Ogilvy’s stellar and consistent showings put him at 8th in the rankings. Edfors is 33rd on the list. They’ll be chasing leader Irish wunderkind Rory McIlroy in the sprint to the finish line.

Geoff Ogilvy tees off at the Dubai World Championship in front of the Burj Tower in Dubai.

Curious what shoes Geoff will be sporting on course this weekend? Look no further…We took our most technical golf performance shoe and added the Race to Dubai logo of iconic buildings of cities on the European Tour across the heel, creating the Swing Crown GTX R2D, which includes our innovative Smart Quill® technology. We have something for everyone – from Shanghai to Dubai.

Well, almost everyone. We’ve produced a very limited number of these shoes, so grab them while you can at www.trendygolf.com.

PUMA Race to Dubai Swing Crown GTX Shoes

Check out this video, which appears to be floating around the web, was sent to us and made us laugh. It’s a pretty incredible trick — who is this girl? Really, who is she?? Kudos to her, and a huge round of applause for the guy holding the beer. Now he’s one brave soul to trust that the girl wasn’t going to miss and, you know, accidentally hit him in the face instead.

Enjoy!

Rickie Fowler fired a 6-under 66 in the first round of the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. He’s currently tied for second, one stroke behind the leader, Justin Rose.

He started the day slow with a 1-under on the front nine. But he found his groove in the final six holes, where he birdied five of them. He ended the day in fine fashion with a chip-in for birdie.

After top-10 finishes in his first two starts as a professional, Rickie has created a ton of buzz in the golfing world. But he’s not letting the added attention change his game plan:

It’s nothing special. I’m not doing anything different really, just kind of playing golf. I’m just making less mistakes, and like I was talking about yesterday, committing to more shots, fully committing. So it’s nothing better than I’ve ever played before, and I’d say it’s, you know, just going out and playing steady rounds of golf.

And he’s making sure to still have fun on the course:

I’m having a great time out there. You know, I’m not getting overly excited. I don’t let my emotions to get the most of me, at least try not to. And you know, playing with Jamie [Lovemark], you know, playing alongside a friend definitely helps. We’re walking up to the fairways joking around and having a good time…hit a golf shot every once in a while and talk some more.

With this stellar start, Rickie is in a great position to achieve what few players have and earn his PGA Tour card by placing in the top 125 on the money list. A top-12 finish would probably be good enough. Or, he could just go out and, you know, win the whole thing.

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the remainder of the week!

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

Congratulations to PUMA athlete Geoff Ogilvy, who fired rounds of 72-74-65-67, to place T10 among a star-studded field at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, last week.

He’s looking to continue his good play over in the Down Under at this week’s hugely publicized Australian Masters. Though the world’s number-one player, Tiger Woods, is in the field, Ogilvy would love to take home the trophy in front of thousands of eager fans:

It would be nice to beat him. It’s do-able, absolutely. He doesn’t win every week, he didn’t win last week (in Shanghai), it would be nice. I would just like to win just to win the Australian Masters and it would be pretty exciting to beat Tiger.

Ogilvy, Australia’s top-ranked golfer, should definitely be a formidable opponent and it sure would be a nice bonus to win in his homeland. Best of luck and keep up the fantastic play!

[Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images]

We sat down with Rickie and asked him about the behind-the-scenes action on the PGA Tour, life off the course and PUMA Golf gear. Enjoy!

PUMA Golf: I’m sure you’ve heard that the Golf Channel commentators have been raving about you during the coverage over the past few weeks. And, they think you look like Leonardo DiCaprio. Any thoughts?

Rickie Fowler: It’s hard for me to see the comparison, but I’ve heard it from a couple of people. So I guess there has to be a little bit of resemblance. It’s definitely nice and good that they’re talking about me. It’s nice they like me and I’m glad I can bring a little bit of edge to the end of the golf season.

PG: You play really fast and your style is daring. Does your background in motocross racing influence that?

RF: Yeah, definitely. I’ve always played really quick. They give you an amount of time you’re supposed to play in, so you’re not supposed to play slow. But I’ve always made decisions quickly on the course…I get the yardages and then I just step up and hit the shot — I hardly ever take a practice swing.

PG: How’s the PUMA golf cart treating you? How fast does it go? Have you done any off-roading on the golf course yet?

RF: Well, I don’t know the top speed and unfortunately I haven’t been in it that much, just because I’ve been on the road ever since Soboba [Classic where PUMA gave me the cart]. But it’s pretty cool and hopefully I’ll get to spend some time on it in the off-season. I love the big wheels and tires and sound system, so it’ll be fun to cruise around in it.

PG: Are you a big Oklahoma State fan?

RF: Definitely. Being a part of that program the last two years, the people there make you feel like family and I’m always going to be a Cowboy.

PG: I hear you like to wear orange on Sundays. Do you think that will be like your equivalent to Tiger’s red?

RF: In a way, yeah. Not many guys are known for wearing orange pants, so it’s kind of my own thing and hopefully I’ll continue it and maybe it’ll catch on.

PG: Do you have an entourage yet? Or groupies?

RF: No [groupies]. I’d say my entourage consists of family and friends that have been with me through everything and supported me through junior golf, amateur golf, and now onto professional golf.

PG: Do you have a girlfriend?

RF: I do right now. We’ve been together two months. I met her on the road. Her dad plays.

PG: Do you have any rivalries on Tour yet?

RF: No. Most guys that are pretty young out there I know from college or amateur golf and I’m trying to get to know [other] guys. But just getting my feet wet and to know everyone. No rivalries yet.

PG: Do you have a favorite player you like to hang out with on Tour?

RF: There’s a few. I’ve spent a lot of time with Tom Pernice who is a friend from back home. If I have my card next year and I’m out there with a schedule, I’m sure I’ll see the guys I know from amateur golf that I’ll spend some time with. Chris Tidland is another guy I spend a lot of time with back in Stillwater, [Oklahoma]– he got his card on the Nationwide Tour this year. I hang out with a few other guys, but I always stay close to the guys from Oklahoma State because of my ties there.

PG: Are there any players you find annoying?

RF: No. <Laughter> I tend to get along with just about anyone. You know, I’ve heard stories about some guys who are kind of hard to handle, but I haven’t run into any problems.

PG: What would your dream pairing be?

RF: I’d definitely like to play with Tiger down the road. Other than that, [it's great] just getting the chance to play with all the other guys out there. I’ve played with a few now and I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know them. I’m just looking forward to different pairings every week.

PG: What do you do in your free time?

RF: Just relax. Hang out with friends and family. Some of my free time consists of practicing as well. I’m never off from golf too much.

PG: So, you’re obviously a great guy — but come on, you’ve got to have some vices. If you had to pick out a bad habit, what would it be?

RF: Biting my fingernails. It’s stopping, I’m trying.

PG: Who would your dream celeb date be?

RF: Hmm. Megan Fox is a hot topic these days. I’d have to think about that one for a bit — there are a few out there, but I’d have to say Megan Fox is right at the top of the list.

PG: What kind of music do you listen to?

RF: My iPod pretty much has everything — hip-hop, country, but I’d say my favorite is alternative [...] something along the lines of Kings of Leon.

PG: What kind of car do you drive?

RF: Right now, Mistubishi Evo 10. I’m doing a few things to it, waiting for a new turbo right now. I’m into fast cars, so exotic ones, like Ferraris, Lamborghinis. My favorite car as of right now is the new Aston Martin One-77.

PG: Do you ever take your car racing?

RF: Eventually. Once my car is finished — all the motor work — I’ll take it to the track, but not yet.

PG: What’s your favorite PUMA style?

RF: Everything I’ve seen I’ve liked. I’ll wear just about anything and I feel like their brand offers pretty much everything. You can basically get any style you want. So, it’s nice to be able to wear one outfit one day and one the other and it’s completely different — it’s a great lifestyle brand.

PG: How would you describe your sense of style?

RF: On the lifestyle side, it’s a little more Southern Cal, a bit edgy, but nothing out of the ordinary. On the golf course, a little more nontraditional, flashy and outgoing — just different with the colors, style and look and not something you see every day on the course.

PG: What’s the most important part of an outfit?

RF: Every part. From the shoes, to the pants, to the belt, to the shirt and hat — if one thing is wrong, it’s going to ruin the outfit. So I think everything plays a certain piece. But I’d say the shoes are probably a big part on the lifestyle side. I think on the golf side, it’s shoes, belt and hat that kind of make it stand out a little more.

PG: How do you choose your outfits every day? Do you plan them out before you travel?

RF: Yes and no. I usually think of what goes with what when I’m back and throw a bunch of stuff in. Then when I’m on the road, I’ll usually lay out the outfits I’m going to wear Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And of course, if you don’t make the cut, you don’t get to wear the Saturday and Sunday ones. It’s always pre-planned before every day. Every once in a while PUMA will script out something to wear if they need me to. But they’ve seen I can get by putting together my own stuff.

PG: Do you put your pants on one leg at a time?

RF: Shoot, I don’t even know which leg I put in first. I guess whichever feels better that morning!

PG: Have you ever played golf commando-style?

RF: I might have had to once because I had the wrong color boxers on for white pants. I think it was after I was out one morning and then I had to play in the afternoon. I might have had, like, black boxers on and I was going to wear white pants and that wouldn’t have worked out.

PG: Do you think shorts should be allowed on the PGA Tour?

RF: No. Pants look a lot better — that’s more toward the traditional side, but with the style of the PUMA pants, I like how they’re cut. Shorts are a look more for your casual, weekend golfer, not [for a] professional.

Thanks for your time, Rickie!

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]