SPRINGFIELD, NJ—The evolution of a touring golf professional is fairly straightforward. First, demonstrate the capacity you belong: consistently making cuts is a major step. Then graduate to the level in showing the wherewithal to contend in regular events. Being able to win a tour event is the next hurdle. The final two steps are the hardest. Compete in a major event and if totally successful add your name to the roster of elite players who can say they have earned a major championship.
Rickie Fowler has clearly shown all of the element mentioned above—save for one. Winning a major event is the ultimate prize for the 27-year-old. In 2014, Fowler added his name to a select grouping of golfers who finished 5th or better in each of the calendar’s major events—something only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods had done at that time. Jordan Spieth joined the group with his outstanding play in 2015. The main difference between Fowler and the others mentioned is just one small but critical detail—he’s yet to win a major event.
Fowler had a solid follow-up year to his play in 2014. He won the prestigious Players Championship—with multiple birdies on the infamous water-surrounded par-3 17th. Rickie also showed a global capacity to win in claiming The Scottish Open with a solid effort to adjust to problematic weather conditions overseas. Rickie concluded the year with a victory in the Fed-Ex Cup Playoffs—winning the Deutsche Bank event by one stroke over Henrik Stenson.
