SAN DIEGO _ Over nearly 25 years, we've pretty much seen it all when it comes to the galleries that accompany Tiger Woods at Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open.
So while the four teenagers who followed Woods in Thursday's opening round stood out in the crowd wearing bright orange tiger suits, it's doubtful Tiger's diary will include a mention.
Woods gave the foursome little more than a glance when he saw them along the rope line coming off the 13th tee box on the North Course.
By contrast, there was the gallery on the South Course for the Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele group.
While it probably numbered half the estimated 3,000 fans trailing Tiger, the numbers were bolstered by 18 fans who dressed like Fowler.
Don't remember seeing that many lookalikes all in one place since Eminem walked into Radio City Music Hall followed by 100 Slim Shadys at the 2000 MTV Music Awards (Google it).
The Fowler 18 were wearing pineapple shirts, shorts and hats from Puma's Island Time collection. Fowler wore the outfit in Hawaii two weeks ago while playing the Plantation Course at Kapalua at the Tournament of Champions.
Carlsbad's Rob Shapiro was among those wearing the ensemble.
"It's a commitment," he said.
Apparently so. In time, effort and, especially, money.
Shapiro said they ordered the gear on Puma's website. They should have asked for a group rate for the shirt ($80), shorts ($50) and hat ($20), but it appears price is no object for the Fowler faithful.
"He's young and exciting," Shapiro explained. "He brings a lot of excitement to the young crowd."
Were these high school friends? Co-workers? Members of a wedding party?
No, they connected in a much more millennial way _ through social media.
And they had a blast, posing for pictures and otherwise yukking it up for 18 holes.
"Looking fly, Rickie," one of them yelled after Fowler's tee shot on the fifth hole. "Keep it going, bro."
I'm sure Fowler put up with, er, appreciated it.
With Mickelson eligible for an AARP membership when he turns 50 in June, the tour is all too eager to embrace its young (and not so young) stars and the young fans they draw to the game.
