Fowler's road to stardom not a matter of if, but when
By Craig Dolch, PGATOUR.COM Contributor
Here's one prediction for the 2010 PGA TOUR season I guarantee: Rickie Fowler will win Rookie of the Year.
No disrespect to Troy Merritt or Alex Prugh, but Fowler has that certain look about him, that swagger that usually accompanies tremendous talent.
Fowler may even win a PGA TOUR event (or two) before ballots are cast this fall. Playing in just his 11th PGA TOUR career event Sunday, the 21-year-old contended for the second time, settling for a fifth-place finish in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. It was the third top-10 of his brief TOUR career.
Fowler was just a shot behind eventual champion Ben Crane until his youthfulness showed with a short-sided double bogey at the 17th hole. From the middle of the fairway, it took him three shots to get on the green, then he missed a 6-footer.
But those kind of mistakes have been more the exception than the rule for the former Oklahoma State All-American. Fowler has already earned more than $757,252 in what amounts to one-third of a season.
He's also earned the respect of his peers.
"He's a veteran at 21," CBS Sports' Gary McCord said during Sunday's telecast.
Fowler's future is brighter than his wardrobe, if that's possible.
"This just kind of reminds me that I can go out and win if I put myself in position," Fowler said.
He was the nation's top collegian last year, earning the Ben Hogan Award. Despite his loud outfits and long hair (which he recently cut) flowing from underneath his cap, Fowler acts in a much more conservative manner when a club is in his hand.
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"He plays matter of fact," said three-time TOUR winner Olin Browne, who played a lot of practice rounds with Fowler this winter in South Florida. "If he feels like trying to make a birdie, he goes for it. But if he birdies the hole, he just walks to the next tee; he doesn't fist-pump or anything. Same thing if he makes a bogey -- you'll never see him talking to himself.
"He plays in the moment."
That's a unique talent for a professional athlete to have. No wasted energy about worrying about what's ahead or lamenting what's behind. Just hit the ball, find it and repeat.
"I've always been able to do that," Fowler said by phone Sunday night. "A lot of that goes back to how I was brought up."
Other than starting the year with two missed cuts, Fowler hasn't seemed overwhelmed by his surroundings. He was paired with local legend Phil Mickelson in Sunday's final round at Torrey Pines, yet it was Lefty who struggled for most of the day while Fowler quickly -- he may be one of the fastest players on TOUR -- moved into contention with four birdies in the first 13 holes.
"Rickie is very mature beyond his years," Browne said. "A lot of kids with his kind of talent usually take time to get climatized to the TOUR. But being a golf pro is something Rickie has been planning for a long time. He knows what he wants to accomplish and he knows how to get there."
Browne's opinion on Fowler is revealing, and not just because Browne has been a respected long-time TOUR member. Fowler also happens to date Browne's daughter, Alexandra; they met at last year's Travelers Championship in Hartford, where Browne is a former champion, and where Fowler was given a sponsor's exemption.
Browne is looking at Fowler for more than how he hits his 5-iron or manages his game. Browne says he's just as impressed with Fowler's off-course demeanor.
"He's a very confident young man, and he has reason to be," Browne said. "He's very focused and very consistent in how he deals with people."
Fowler admits there was a time when he didn't feel at ease as a golfer. That was six years ago when he first started competing in American Junior Golf Association events against more experienced teenagers.
"I had to deal with not coming from a bunch of money," he said. "When I first started playing in AJGA events, I had to learn how to fit in out there. That experience prepared me for this."
At a time when golf fans are looking for someone to step up in Tiger Woods' absence, it might be the new kid has the best shot, especially since he doesn't have the scar tissue from years of being denied.
And Fowler is earning his way. Thanks to his 15th-place finish at last year's q-school at Bear Lakes Country Club, Fowler has had to use only one sponsor exemption this year. He was offered one into this week's Northern Trust Open, but won't need it because of the top-10 finish.
It won't be long before Fowler never has to worry about getting into a PGA TOUR event. And once he becomes fully-exempt, he likely will be so for a very long time.
"Not much has surprised me so far," Fowler said of his six-month pro career. "But I'm sure there are going to be some things I'll need to figure out."
He's well ahead of the learning curve.
"I think he's going to have a great year," Mickelson said.
So do many others.
Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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