Rickie Fowler and Leonardo DiCaprio share more than just similarities

ORLANDO – You’re looking at this Bay Hill Tour? Another highlight in this exciting Rickie Fowler comeback tour. Sunday is going to be big here. The other Sunday, Sunday of players championshipit’s going to be even bigger, what with the Academy Awards being held and all.

Fowler’s close personal friend and absolute doppelganger (looking for some latitude here, folks), Leonardo DiCaprio, is up for an Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards being held at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Fowler is trying to play his way back to Augusta. If you’re in the top 50 in the world golf rankings at the end of March, you’re in Master. Fowler is 67th. A good finish here and at the Players would do him wonders. Of course, many other talented players are trying to do the same.

It won’t be easy – not for Leo, not for Rick – but what’s worth it? DiCaprio was nominated for his performance as Bob Ferguson, a paranoid, pot-smoking, self-proclaimed revolutionary in One battle after anothera dark comedy-thriller-satire directed by Thomas Paul Anderson. But let’s give the lid to its competition here:

Michael B. Jordan at sinners, and formerly the son of Apollo Creed in one of the many mere children born of the original Rocky film.

Also (speaking of sports), Timothée Chalamet, who plays Ping Pong champion Marty Supreme in Marty Supreme.

Also, completing this top five, is Ethan Hawke Blue moon and Wagner Moura in Secret Agent.

While we’re at it, here’s a foursome of super-talents trying to make their way into the 2026 Masters: Tom Kim, Joaquin Niemann, Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris.

So, yes.

Could Michael B. Jordan Play Tiger E. Woods in a Tiger Woods Biopic? The actor is no golfer, but he sure could. Michael B. Jordan can play anyone – he is that good. Could Ethan Hawke Play Russell Henley in a Russell Henley Biopic? Ab-very lute. (While we’re at it, and they were once at the same party at the same time, and it actually created a little confusion, despite the age difference: Nick Faldo and Harrison Ford. Ford received one of those industry lifetime achievement awards the other day and ended his speech by saying of the award, “It’s encouraging.” He’s 83.)

But it’s unlikely that Tiger has ever been asked if he’s Michael B. Jordan. It is even more unlikely that Russell Henley has ever been asked if he is Ethan Hawke. But people have actually asked Rickie Fowler, 37, and six-time winner on the PGA Tour, if he is, in fact, Leonardo DiCaprio, 51, and six-time Oscar nominee (and one-time winner) in the Best Actor category.

“I’ve gotten it a few times from people that there’s a little bit of a similarity there,” Fowler said Friday. “I definitely take it as a compliment, not a bad compliment.

Absolutely. It is their hair and broad forehead, their narrow eyes full of life – and their shy and cold manner. After he actually had a thing for Mary (Cameron Diaz). Something about Marythere’s something about Rick, like there is about DiCaprio. It’s been a pleasure to watch Fowler play his Tour-ready golf for over 16 years now.

The actor and golfer have met once, through Mike Meldman, the real estate developer behind the Discovery golf properties. This was in Mexico, in Cabo San Lucas, at the El Dorado Golf & Beach Club, a Discovery Land Company property.

“I was down there on vacation,” Fowler said. “He was down there, too. We were at a house (owned by) a good friend of mine, Mike Meldman, in El Dorado. We were just hanging out, maybe having a few beers or cocktails, but nothing crazy.”

Fowler was asked if he mentioned to the actor that he sometimes messes with him.

“No,” Fowler said in his boyish way. “I didn’t mean to mention it.”

Meldman has his take on the visit:

“I’m just going to say they got along well since they’re both stars.”

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com