Golf star Rickie Fowler has confirmed his intentions to become an investor in Leeds United.
It was confirmed on June 9 that an agreement had been reached for 49ers Enterprises, the owners of the San Francisco 49ers, to become the new owners of Leeds. The news came just weeks after the Elland Road club were relegated from the Premier League into the Championship.
Andrea Radrizzani had been the owner of Leeds since 2017, but had been seeking further investment in recent years. A deal was already agreed for 49ers Enterprises to buy Leeds for £400m, but relegation from the English top flight led to fresh negotiations over a new price.
Various reports claimed to suggest that 49ers Enterprises were now valuing Leeds closer to £170m. The American-led group had already owned 44 percent of the club since November 2021, with the remaining 56 percent now being handed over from Radrizzani to the owners of the NFL franchise.
Fowler is getting ready to play in the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club this week, and is looking to win his first major championship. Ahead of the tournament, the American has revealed that he is looking to be an investor in Leeds following the recent takeover.
The 34-year-old also revealed that close friends - and major winners - Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth were also involved in becoming investors in Leeds. When asked by Sky Sports if he was officially an investor in the club, Fowler replied: "Not yet, technically.
He added: "There is the group that's moving forward with being involved with Leeds. Myself, JT (Justin Thomas) and Jordan (Spieth) potentially will be a part of it."
Defending US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick's caddie Billy Foster is also a Leeds supporter, and it was put to Fowler whether he had been involved in convincing the Americans to become investors into the club.
Fowler said: "He (Foster) didn't know about it from the start. But we told him after knowing he is a huge Leeds United supporter.
"It's cool to have those opportunities. I know we are looking into it. It will be fun if we get to be a part of it. If not, we will continue to root for Leeds to see if we can help out Billy.
"Obviously they got relegated, but to be able to go to a Premier League game, Champions League. I feel like, obviously you call it football over there, we call it soccer here, it's a massive sport.
"I feel like it's continuing to get bigger in the States, but still since I haven't been to a game I don't have the true appreciation until I've actually been able to go and be there and feel that energy."
