PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Anthony Trudel was selected as a standard bearer for Thursday’s opening round of the Honda Classic, but he was worried he might not be able to focus on his job.
That’s because he was told he’d be carrying the placard displaying a group’s scores relative to par for a threesome playing behind his idol, Rickie Fowler.
“He was like, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to pay attention, I’m going to be watching him ahead of me,’” said Anthony’s mother, Daniela. “‘I got the group behind Rickie, I might lose focus looking at the group in front.’”
What Anthony, 17, didn’t know was that his mother, working behind the scenes with Cara Canington, the PGA Tour’s Manager of Social Impact & Responsibility, and in conjunction with the tournament and Fowler, arranged to make a switch as Anthony waited on the first tee of the Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa.
HONDA: Leaderboard | Photos | Tee times, TV info
That’s where he was told that instead of carrying the standard for the 1:15 p.m. group of J.B. Holmes, Brian Gay and Austin Cook, he’d be the standard bearer for Fowler, the 2017 Honda champion, 2019 champ Keith Mitchell and defending champ Sungjae Im, who teed off at 1:04. Keeping a low, but delighted, profile just outside the ropes were Daniela, dad Richard and sister Giada.
“I was surprised,” Anthony said. “It was a good day out there. I’m looking forward to the next couple of days. I’m going to watch (Rickie) Friday morning and then do this in the afternoon.”
According to Daniela, Fowler has been Anthony’s hero “since he was a little kid. He was a little kid dressed in Puma.”
“We bought him the sneakers, he had all the high-tops since they ever came out,” added Richard. “I’ve got them all lined up in the garage.”
Rickie Fowler gives standard bearer Anthony Trudel his golf glove after Thursday’s first round of the Honda Classic at PGA National. (Photo: Steve Waters Special to the Palm Beach Post)
“He doesn’t plan things for the weekend,” Daniela said. “If Rickie makes the cut he stays home and watches golf all weekend. If he doesn’t make the cut then he’ll be like, ‘OK, now I can do something for the weekend.’”
Fowler, one of the PGA Tour’s fan favorites, proved worthy of that adulation after Anthony went to the hospital with a severe headache and was found to have a brain tumor. That was almost four years ago, when he was 13. His mother said his only question for his doctors was when could he play golf again.
Now a junior at North Broward Prep, where he plays on the golf team, Anthony is “doing good” and has follow-ups every eight months at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which is a major beneficiary of the Honda Classic’s charitable efforts.
Two year ago, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the PGA Tour’s Canington, the Trudels attended the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. Anthony was told he might be able to meet Fowler. Fowler was doing a clinic when he invited Anthony to join him, had him hit a few wedge shots, then presented him with a set of Cobra golf clubs and a Cobra golf bag. Puma, Fowler’s apparel sponsor, provided the Trudels with clothing. On Saturday of the tournament, Anthony was allowed to walk inside the ropes with Fowler.
“That was like just the most amazing experience. The PGA Tour has done so many things,” Daniela said. “Cara has kept in contact and that’s how we were able to make this happen.
“Anthony volunteered (to be a standard bearer) before I even contacted the PGA Tour. He said, ‘It’s close to home, it’s the closest one, can I volunteer, I want to do it?’ So he did it and once he got the approval that he would be a standard bearer, I contacted Cara and said, ‘Is there any way …?’”
And Canington found a way to make another wish come true for Anthony.