Rickie Fowler helps to rebuild home destroyed by Sandy

PARAMUS, N. J. – Rickie Fowler wields a pretty mean driver.

He's not bad around a saw, either.

That shouldn't be any surprise since Fowler has been working on dirt bikes since he was a toddler and knows his way around a tool box and in a tool shed.

Heck, recently he even built himself out of scratch a large fish box that holds all his fishing reels.

So when Farmers Insurance, one of his sponsors, called him to ask if he'd help rebuild homes devastated by natural disasters, Fowler, the only player to finish in the top-5 in all four majors this season, put down the golf clubs.

So there he was an hour south of Manhattan in Sea Bright, N.J., on Tuesday before Thursday's commencement of the PGA Tour's lucrative FedExCup Playoffs, helping to rebuild the home of Erik Lovgren.

The home's entire first floor was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The destruction from the storm was so far reaching that reconstruction is still ongoing. Fowler spent an hour at the house helping cut wood and install flooring, siding and trim. Afterward, he put on a golf clinic on a nearby beach for the area's First Tee Program.

"I've done plenty of cutting and I've built stuff. I'm not worried about a hammer and a nail. I have some coordination," Fowler said. "(Lovgren) was excited about getting back into the house for football season and having everyone over for a cookout.

"It's fun being able to help out and make someone's life better. It may be only hour, but to have a chance to talk and help someone out, who knows how much that affects someone? I hope it helps."

More than a year ago, Farmers launched a program to help communities recover from natural disasters. More than 250 employee volunteers went to Joplin, Mo., and helped rebuild more than 30 homes after a catastrophic multi-vortex tornado in 2011 destroyed much of the city.

By the end of this year more than 200 employee volunteers will aid in recovery efforts in Sea Bright and surrounding areas.
"Rickie's character and desire to give back to communities aligns directly with our values and priorities," Farmers Insurance CEO Jeff Dailey said. "On and off the golf course, he is a great ambassador for the Farmers brand."

Fowler has lent a hand many times before.

In 2013 after tornados ripped through much of Oklahoma and shattered many communities, including the city of Moore, Fowler held a golf clinic and talked for hours with more than 100 golfers from three high schools.

He struck up a friendship with Jake Reddington, then a Moore High junior, and stays in contact with him to this day.

"I can't go and help everyone but at least being able to give back to one person or one group is rewarding," Fowler said. "I've seen the influence with (Reddington) and seeing him go from basically losing everything to where he's rebounded. It's cool seeing how excited people are about moving forward and what's possible."