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The American Express: Top 10 power rankings in California

By Mike Randleman

LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 21: A general view of the 18th hole during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 21: A general view of the 18th hole during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 19: Rickie Fowler watches his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the final round of the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West on January 19, 2014 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 19: Rickie Fowler watches his tee shot on the eleventh hole during the final round of the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West on January 19, 2014 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Rickie Fowler is making just his third appearance at The American Express and first since 2014. I wonder what Phil did to convince him to come? A guaranteed future Phireside Chat appearance?

Guess we’ll see.

Fowler’s played just seven rounds at this event and only four at the Stadium course. In 2010, the then 21-year-old missed the cut. He improved for a T-33 (68-71-67-66) in 2014.

Fowler comes in off a week of rest following a T-5 (68-71-74-69) at the Tournament of Champions. A tough go of it in windy conditions on Saturday was all that kept him from title contention. This was his fourth straight top-20 dating back to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, though three were at limited field events.

While Fowler doesn’t have a lot of reps at this event, it’ll be somewhat of a home game for the Murietta, California, native who grew up about 100 miles west. Surprisingly, he’s going for his first win in his home state.

This is a tournament that fits Fowler’s game well. He can play aggressively (4.04 birdie average, 30th) and is a good ball striker who can roll in plenty of putts (13th SG, .541). In his five Tour wins, his winning score has been 12-under or lower.

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