Rickie Fowler: Earning his Tour Stripes

BY Anthony Powter | 30 Oct 2009

Rickie Fowler is barely two months into his professional career and he has already banked over US$500,000 in prize money. The 20-year-old came to life at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Open a few weeks back, firing four rounds in the 60’s to finish in a tie for 7th.

The following tournament at the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, Fowler again turned heads after losing to Troy Matteson in a three-way playoff.

In just two PGA Tour events the former world number one amateur, playing on sponsor’s exemptions, had made enough money to move to 136th on the season’s money list, and with two events still remaining has time to reach the top 125 and earn exempt status for next season without going to Q-School.

The only players since 1980 to earn their way onto the PGA Tour without needing to qualify are Justin Leonard, Gary Hallberg, Tiger Woods, Ryan Moore and Charles Howell III.

Even if Fowler misses of the top 125 there’s a back-up plan. The special temporary membership he has earned by his current money list position will likely allow him to go straight to final stage Q-School in any event.

“I got off to a fairly quick start,” says Fowler who turned professional in early September after heading up the US Walker Cup team win with a perfect 4-0 record in the match-play segment against Great Britain and Ireland.

“My game is pretty good right now and I’m excited where I am at. I feel like I’ve settled in fairly quickly. To finish tied for seventh and then tied for first, and lose in a playoff, it’s all come so quickly.”

There’s no question that Fowler brings game. He is gifted, charming, engaging and fiercely competitive, a trait that will serve him well as he carves out his own niche on the world golfing stage in the coming years. He’s been crowned by many as the next big thing. Although it is wise not to rush into conclusions of future stardom, Fowler’s efforts during the Fall Series have been nothing short of stunning.

Despite the current distractions with his new found fame, Fowler continues to play golf just like he always has – aggressively, passionately and brilliantly.

“I try not to think too much about it,” he says about the added attention.

“The last month has gone by so quickly. I’ve kind of had to deal with expectations for a while now. So I’ve wasn’t worried too much about that outside stuff.”

Fowler’s brilliant run of form started building at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational back in July, where he lost in a playoff for the title against Derek Lamely. In earlier PGA Tour events where he’d managed to get starts, including two US Opens, Fowler had posted solid rounds but not four in a row.

At last year’s US Open at Torrey Pines, a venue that is only an hour away from his hometown of Murietta, California, Fowler stole the show on the opening day with a 1-under-par 70 to sit alongside four players in 7th place. He was just one of 11 players to break par in the opening round and his efforts made headlines around the world.

“If you can do it once, you can do it four times in a tournament,” remarks Fowler, who has yet to record a round outside the 60’s in his last eight on the PGA Tour.

“I managed that at the Children’s Hospital Invitational back in July when still at college. My game is better than what it was in college. I haven’t really been doing anything special, I’m just making up for my mistakes a little better.”

Fowler was the number one ranked US college and amateur golfer when he made the transition to the professional ranks. His obvious talent, coupled with his cool looks, attracted early endorsement deals with Puma and Titleist.

One of his biggest thrills was a welcome gift from Puma – a tricked out, motocross-inspired golf cart that features a roll cage, off-road tyres, push bar and “state-of-the-art” stereo system. There are sure to be many other “spoils” to follow as Fowler embarks upon what is sure to be a promising professional career.

His immediate focus is gaining status, preferably on the PGA Tour.

Fowler will skip the first stage of the PGA Tour Q-School to play the Viking Classic, the second last PGA Tour event of the season.

“I’m not quite sure if I’ve got a start in the season ender in Florida, but hopefully I can have another good week at the Viking that will see me then playing the final event.”

The plan for Fowler is to hopefully avoid the Q-School route altogether. He’s not exempt on the PGA Tour for 2010, although a win at the Viking will give him his player’s card. Should he also earn more than US$100,000 in the next two events, that should be enough to get fully exempt status for next year.

“I’m going in with the same game plan I did in those last two,” said Fowler earlier this week.

“It seemed to work out pretty well, so we’ll see what happens next.”

Like many emerging players, Fowler is aware of the need to have a well-rounded game that can adjust to the idiosyncratic nature of the world’s golf courses and the grind associated with travel.

He will need time to settle into the game, but the bottom line is Fowler has stirred our curiosity.

Players of Fowler’s calibre are making us wonder what will come of them, even given the fickle nature of the game where one great season on tour can be followed with one where you’re grinding to retain your card.

Nothing is a sure thing, yet with Rickie Fowler you cannot help but think he’ll be around for a long while and its certainly a good thing to watch as he tries to earn his tour stripes displaying his own unique style – fast and furious.