Rickie Fowler: Is this his year to win a major?

Rickie Fowler has grown into a mature pro golfer – he’s ready for a major championship title.

Rickie Fowler has been one of the most popular players on the PGA TOUR for quite some time now. However, for years, he never seemed to walk the walk. Fowler, being one of the more marketable icons in the game, seemed to disappear when it mattered most. With the U.S. Open coming up, and two other majors left in the year, I ask this: Is this Rickie Fowler’s year to win a major?

Going in to the 2017 season, Fowler had only 3 victories in about 8 years of play on the PGA TOUR. However, he has been a completely different player this year. Fowler is no longer just the flashy, stylish kid. He is now a mature competitor week in and week out. He has already notched a win this season, claimed a top-25 finishing position in over 70% of his starts, and five top-10 placings. It is clear this is a different year, a better year.

Fowler is currently ranked 2nd amongst PGA TOUR players in scoring average, 3rd in average birdies per round, and 1st in sand-save percentage. As far is strokes gained statistics, Fowler has been impeccable. He is sitting in 6th for both SG: Putting and SG: Tee-to-Green, 5th SG: Approach-the-Green, and an incredible 1st overall total strokes gained. He is also in the top 10 when it comes to the FedEx Cup Standings and Official World Golf Rankings.

We began to see a transition in Fowler’s play during the most recent Ryder Cup. With 3 matches played, Fowler gained 2 wins for the United States team. This was his third Ryder Cup appearance, but yet those were is first 2 wins. This just further supports my point: Rickie Fowler has taken a step forward. He is at a new level in his career, and it is all very sudden.

So, back to the original question of whether or not this is Rickie’s year to win a major tournament. I believe it is. Fowler has been more consistent than ever before. He is hitting the ball extremely well, putting confidently, and clearly enjoying himself out there. As he gains strokes on the course, he also gains overall confidence. By doing so, he is able to feel like he belongs atop the leaderboard in a major. And though his play has been great, I believe his intangibles are now stellar. It is apparent that Fowler is valuing the game itself, and the constant grind that comes along with it, over the flash or glamour.

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It is evident that he wants to win now and expects to win every week, whereas earlier in his career, he was simply hoping to win on a week-to-week basis. Rather than planning the color coordination of his outfits for the weekend, Fowler has most likely been planning how to conquer the selected course.

He is no longer dazzled by, overwhelmed with, or focused on the spotlight. He now seems to become brighter and more focused by the attention, an important attribute when attempting to win a major. Some duck and hide when the nerves start to come, as Fowler used to do. That has all changed. It is no longer something that golf fans, experts, or other players associate with Fowler.

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Fowler is now walking the walk. He seems to always be in the mix on Sunday. This is no longer the kid with the goofy hair and a bright wardrobe. This is a mature professional golfer. A professional winner. This is Rickie Fowler’s year to win a major.

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