Rickie Fowler’s haircut a sign of Team USA’s Ryder Cup passion

Rickie Fowler has shaved a “USA” pattern into the side of his head and American captain Tom Watson has already selected a motivational chant for a Ryder Cup that doesn’t even start until Friday.

That’s the sort of passion brought out by golf’s biennial showdown between Europe and the United States, the 40th edition of which launched on Monday with US and European players arriving in Scotland and assembling at Gleneagles.

Fowler, ranked 10th, shocked the squad with his new haircut, which features the “USA” lettering shaved into the right side of his head, extending from back to front over his right ear.

“I thought it was great,” Watson said. “I thought it was terrific. It brings a spirit, a light spirit to the team.”

Even European captain Paul McGinley had to take off his hat to the move.

“I think that’s great,” he said. “The guy is so passionate about his country that he will go and do that for the Ryder Cup, I think that’s brilliant.”

Watson, the 65-year-old legend who won eight major titles and five British Opens, also has a counterbalance cheer for American supporters, taken from a popular chant in support of the US World Cup football squad.

“When we hear the ‘Ole, Ole, Ole’, we have the US soccer cheer ‘We believe that we can win,’” Watson said. “And it’s really exciting when you hear it done. It’s pretty cool. There will be some noise out there. There will be some cheering.”