RICKIE FOWLER has been branded a “coward” by a furious fan at The Open after the golf star was shockingly heckled at Hoylake.

The American had been completing his opening round on Thursday when he was jeered by a fan at the side of the course.

Fowler was called out for pulling out of a deal to invest in Leeds.

As he walked past a crowd of spectators, one shouted: “What happened to the 49ers investment? Come on Leeds! Coward!”

The fan could also be seen laughing after Fowler walked past as their outburst was caught on camera.

Other fans were quick to react to a clip of the incident after it emerged on social media.

One responded by commenting: “This is quality.”

Another added: “That’s Leeds.”

A third fan also wrote: “British heckling just hits different.”

Meanwhile, one more said: “What an extremely British heckle.”

Fowler himself also responded to the heckling, after being asked about the incident following his round.

According to Kevin Van Valkenburg, Fowler said: “He called me a coward for not going through with my Leeds investment.

“That’s a first. Maybe he should put up his own money.”

The £170million takeover of Leeds was completed this week, with group of investors having a combined net worth of £4.8billion.

Led by the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers NFL franchise, several athletes were also involved in the takeover.

Michael Phelps, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who joined the group after Fowler withdrew, have all put money into the deal.

Fowler ended his opening round at The Open on one over par to see him sit tied 48th on the leaderboard.

He had been on two under par going into the par five 18th hole before disastrously scoring a triple bogey to end the round.