Rickie Fowler in the majors

[duffer987]

OK... I'm going to come out of the orange closet here and just frickin' say it: I LIKE RICKIE FOWLER.

It would be nice to see him win a few tournaments and have more playing golf success, where he already has all the golf business success he'll ever need.

There we go. All better now.

[WVP]

He's definitely shown the ability to score well and compete on the biggest stages. I'd like to see him break through and grab a major sooner than later to take some pressure off so he's not in a Garcia, Westwood, Donald situation 10 years from now.

And I knew the orange would get toned down - can you imagine a 40 year old dressed in orange from head to toe (other than John Daly)? Gotta wonder what's going on with this new hat though. Does he have a tiny head? Is this a trend that only he knows about?

[hogans71]

I trying to figure out what's not to like. By all accounts, he's mature, polite, respectful of both fans and playing partners and seems to not have a whiff of ego. All the while, having serious game.

Oh yeah, the color orange. And hats. There's that.

[Matt97GT]

crazy to think he was in the final pairing on sunday, shot a 67....and was nowhere close to winning.

i over judged him based off of Rory's score and that he missed a few opportunities but the realization is that he DID in fact bring it on sunday.

[Frankensteins Monster]

I don't know what it is. Rick is missing 'it'. That 'it' prevents him from winning in the majors. He's getting close but I just think he's missing something and I can't put my finger on it. It could be nerves and the more he gets in contention it will get better but I think I'm seeing hesitation rather than the killer instinct that the likes of Tiger, Phil and Rory display. I hope he gets it. The PGA tour would be benefit greatly. It's the prime time for the changing of the guard. I would love to see the young guns battle it out with the old guard. It would be great.

[WVP]

[quote name='Frankensteins Monster' timestamp='1405950969' post='9748085']
I would love to see the young guns battle it out with the old guard. It would be great.
[/quote]

I guess it depends on who you consider the old guard but I would say that has been happening for a few years now. Kaymer, Mcilroy, Adam Scott, Bubba, Keegan have all won. And Spieth is certainly competing as is Fowler and Jason Day.

[SilverBullets]

Fowler is great for the game. He's a breath of fresh air on the tour. Dare I say golf as a whole needs him (or players who the younger generation of golf can relate to). He seems like a very nice guy, who is out there having fun. He has stuck to his roots and is out there being himself, dressing the way he wants and being an individual. Whether you like his style or not, something needs to be said for that. He paired with a corporate sponsor who wants him to act and dress like and individual. He relates to the kids and golf needs the kids to continue to grow the game.

While he isn't on the same level of Tiger from a winning perspective, he however, like tiger, is one of the guys who makes golf 'cool' for the younger generation. I hope Ricky continues to play well and eventually finds himself winning some tournaments and hopefully some majors. He's a really good face for game.

[scratchswinger]

He played great yesterday, definitely played good enough to win 80% of all majors. Rory was just unstoppable.

It's nice to see Rickie play so well and earn his way onto the Ryder Cup. In 2010 when he sparked the US Comeback I became an instant fan. Later that year when I met a kid that Rickie gave his personal cell number to an invited him to play Riviera I became a life long fan. It would be a tall order to find a better person period than Rickie. We should all be fans of his.

[stumblinhorse]

Rickie is putting the bar very high for all the other "young guns". He has game, I mean real game. He is polite and grounded about his skill. He is not Bubba crazy! Talks to people on the course. I haven't seen him, that I can remember, let go of the club on the follow through or have a tiger tantrum.

He has totally won me over. Don't mind the outfits. I think paying respect to your alma mater is not a problem. And the hats, no problem, at least it isn't a visor.

[tgtaggie]

[quote name='Frankensteins Monster' timestamp='1405950969' post='9748085']
I don't know what it is. Rick is missing 'it'. That 'it' prevents him from winning in the majors. He's getting close but I just think he's missing something and I can't put my finger on it. It could be nerves and the more he gets in contention it will get better but I think I'm seeing hesitation rather than the killer instinct that the likes of Tiger, Phil and Rory display. I hope he gets it. The PGA tour would be benefit greatly. It's the prime time for the changing of the guard. I would love to see the young guns battle it out with the old guard. It would be great.
[/quote]

I think he has that killer instinct. The two times he won, he beat Rory. Compared to when he won at the Wells Fargo a couple of years ago, I think he is a more complete player. He played a great round down the stretch yesterday and if Rory didn't have such a huge lead would've been in a playoff at worst. I'm just glad he worked hard to erase those doubles at the wrong time.

[media=]http://youtu.be/mTWKhwPJ_oU[/media]

[rlynham]

Having success so soon after making major swing changes is unusual and certainly shows that he put a lot of work in. Props to him for another strong major finish.

[rtran]

I really like Rickie's new swing. His humble attitude is also great. Hope he puts some more W's in his book soon.

[leerob3]

I'm a fan. He's a tough competitor and wants to win. I love his style of play which I think is similar to Rory's, very aggressive and pedal to the metal, when he's on look out. Last year at the Barclay's practice he went out of his way to come over and talk to my buddies 3 kids, he got a good laugh when he got up close and saw they were covered in ice cream! Top notch guy, nice to see him do well

[Mags]

[quote name='Frankensteins Monster' timestamp='1405950969' post='9748085']
I don't know what it is. Rick is missing 'it'. That 'it' prevents him from winning in the majors. He's getting close but I just think he's missing something and I can't put my finger on it. It could be nerves and the more he gets in contention it will get better but I think I'm seeing hesitation rather than the killer instinct that the likes of Tiger, Phil and Rory display. I hope he gets it. The PGA tour would be benefit greatly. It's the prime time for the changing of the guard. I would love to see the young guns battle it out with the old guard. It would be great.
[/quote]

There's not been an "it" though, at least in the 2 Opens where he played well enough to win. Someone else simply went out and destroyed the course and field the first two days. Take that 1 guy out of either tournament and Rickie could easily have 2 majors under his belt in as many months.

[tembolo1284]

Very nice to see him playing well.

[HeadonaStick]

[quote name='CommerceTiger' timestamp='1405776201' post='9734659']
[quote name='k12carter' timestamp='1405768915' post='9734199']
I think he would be one of my favorites if not for that flat brim hat. on a side note he is also one of the most accommodating professional athletes I have seen. on several occasions I've seen him sign for 20 plus minutes and take as many photos as requested. seems like a great guy
[/quote]

So he's a great guy, signs autographs and takes pictures longer than most guys, and has a lot of talent but not one of your favorites because of a hat? Makes sense.......
[/quote]
Exactly. I hate that hat.

[rafal]

Somewhere out there, the Dark One approves....

[Awsi Dooger]

I'm convinced Rory would have played better on Sunday and won by greater margin if he hadn't been paired with Rickie. The two are peers are Rickie has proven not to be intimidated by Rory. Anything but that, actually. It seems to spark his game. That result at Wells Fargo is like a trump card in his back pocket. They may be friends but I'm convinced there's lasting impact of that first professional confrontation. All day Saturday I was rooting for Rory to clear as wide a margin as possible over Rickie. If tied entering that round, I think Rickie wins.

Rickie has high finishes in majors but not really any scar tissue. I think he's more legit than Jason Day, who was overhyped, IMO, based on a handful of close calls in majors. Day did have opportunities and failed.

I completely agree with the poster who said the game needs Rickie. I didn't fully appreciate it until Doral a few months ago. Other young players may be touted on boards like this but the public in general doesn't know or care who they are. Only Rickie draws a crowd regardless of how he's playing, and it's a passionate crowd with a surprising cross section.

I was also impressed with a recent segment during an LPGA telecast, showing Rickie eating lunch at an outdoor cafe in Jupiter with Michelle Wie and other young pros who live in the Jupiter area. Rickie was eating a wide club sandwich that made me envious and hungry, and playing with Michelle's little white dog.

[Your-away!]

rickie is fantastic for golf! anyone who gets kids as young as 5 or 6 years old into the game is doing amazing, how many golfers have done that in the past 130 years!

he seems really bright in both senses of the word, seems like a really nice guy as well.

his game is improving as well but winning a major is a different story, at the end of the day hes won once on tour in 5 years, not the best record in the world, i know hes done well in the majors this year but did he ever really look like winning any of them? i would love him to win a major, just not sure if he ever will, i do think the open would be his best chance though.

good luck rickie!

[Groundskeeperwilly]

I was at the Scottish Open a few weeks ago and watched all the top pros who were there on the range before their rounds. Rickie Fowler had loads of time for the kids and fans, probably only bettered by Phil Mickleson. Fowler also was putting on a clinic in how to hit the golf ball, it was great to watch him hitting shots that I didn't see from other guys. I was so impressed on Sunday when he warmed up beside Rory that I bet on Rickie to win the British Open....

[tesuquegolfer]

All I can say is wow, and where did this Ricky come from. Impressive showing in the 2014 Majors!

[ABgolfer2]

[quote name='tesuquegolfer' timestamp='1406066691' post='9761373']
All I can say is wow, and where did this Ricky come from. Impressive showing in the 2014 Majors!
[/quote]

Lol, I think he's probably had more Golf Digest and Golf Magazine covers than Jimmy Walker, Ryan Moore, Russell Henley, Rory Sabatini, Mike Weir, and a dozen other multiple winners combined. If Jason Day, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth have 1 win for every 5 covers they'll be a lock for the hall of fame.

[401Betterthanmost]

I feel like he is finding his game and that combined with his appeal to younger fans of the game is good for golf. Which is something that i think golf needs now... Post tiger.

[ayr fan]

A friend has had each way bets on Rickie at each of the 2014 majors and they've all come in so far. He swears that Rickie is going to pay his kids' way through college ;-)

[9400]

His toned down look has done remarkable things to his perception among older fans it seems. Since day one he has been one of the most popular people among his peers on tour. However, I think his appearance had overshadowed some of his best attributes and created some detractors. It is great that he is now being celebrated as one of the genuine nice guys who has a ton of game. I find myself rooting for him because he is just so darn likable.

Also, I really see him as a Fred Couples successor. Extremely marketable off the course with the chance to have an above average playing career.

[KrazyTrain18]

There is nothing to hate about Rickie. Sure I don't care for his outfits, but he's an excellent person from what I know and he works very hard at his game. A matter of time until he wins a big tournament.

On a side note, I know this is a couple years ago, but at the RBC Canadian Open when it was in Vancouver, he was easily the most accomadating player to the fans that whole week.

[duffer987]

[quote name='ayr fan' timestamp='1406081769' post='9763565']
A friend has had each way bets on Rickie at each of the 2014 majors and they've all come in so far. He swears that Rickie is going to pay his kids' way through college ;-)
[/quote]

Well sure! Because when Rickie finds this thread, he will get in contact with your mate and set up some kind of college trust fund for them, out of a portion of his winnings at the majors

[Bingo1976]

I like Rickie, he is one of the few players I could imagine cracking a cold one with and having a good chat. His image is getting better, but he needs to have a shave and wear a hat that fits him.

He should win a couple of Majors - his game seems to be quite adaptable in that he has placed well at all 3 majors so far this year.

[imakaveli]

Fowler is playing very well when the conditions are tough, look also in the 2011 Open, I think he be Champion Golfer of the Year very soon

[johnboy99]

I like Ricky - great player and seems like an all-around good guy. I think his flashy style causes (some) people to dislike him which is pretty silly to me. Remember any pro athlete is kind of running their own business and building their own brand - If they can differentiate themselves enough to stand out and draw a fan base they become more attractive to sponsors and a lot of guys make WAY more money from their endorsements than they do from winnings. It's good for business and he's done it well. If I had that kind of fame and money in my mid 20s, I'd probably do a lot worse than wear a silly hat...