The Masters 2017: Can Rickie Fowler earn his first Major?
With his recent title at the Honda Classic and his current playing level, it might just be Rickie Fowler’s time to put on that green jacket.
Rickie Fowler heads into this year’s Masters in the top 10 and with a recent win under his belt, at the Honda Classic just a little over a month ago. He followed up with a top three finish at the Shell Houston Open just last week. Right before Honda, he finished fourth at the Waste Management tourney as well. All this points to the 28 year-old entering the Augusta, GA Major in top form and ready to pull it off at the biggest tournament in golf.
“I’m making a lot of birdies right now, and that bodes well around this golf course,” said Fowler on Monday this week, in an ESPN interview. “You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to have to settle for bogeys here and there. … Having a lot of offense these last two tournaments is something that I want to feed off of.”
Fowler famously didn’t make the cut last year and he’s only got a 1-in-94 chance according to the odds-makers this year, but here are several reasons why the hotshot golfer could walk away with the Masters trophy.
Level of play
Fowler may be ninth, but his birdie average is ranked seventh.
The California native posts the lowest average score while ranking in the PGA tour top 30 in strokes gained for driving, approach shots, chipping, and putting, according to Jason Sobel at ESPN.
Fowler’s putting game is especially strong, where he places 9th in strokes gained. When it comes to tee-to-green performances, he falls 4th on the tour.
In short, Rickie Fowler has the broadest game going into the Major this week and has a lot to draw from to top the leader board.
He’s got the maturity
Rickie Fowler is a great talent, but consistency has been the concern about his game. One of the youngest US players in the Ryder’s Cup’s history, the American golfer has been a talent on the scene from an early age. The level of play he’s demonstrated over the course of the year has been consistently great.
Perhaps, at age 28, he’s grown in maturity and can steady his mind for the win. He calmed his nerves during some anxious moments at the Honda tourney. The PGA tour title was also the first time he converted a 54-hole lead into an actual tournament win.
He’s just behind competitors Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth in top 10 finishes in majors since 2011.
Factoring in his recent win at Honda and impressive finish just a few weeks ago at Shell, he’s clocked in two more top 10 finishes in just seven events. The tide is on Fowler’s side.
The Masters can sometimes be unpredictable
Think Danny Willett last year.
Consistency and maturity aside, Fowler may also have the right amount of risk for that extra edge needed to hit winners. The Augusta National golf course favors precise, aggressive play. We know Fowler has the swagger, but if he can keep his mind calm, he might find the perfect combination to steel his power.
2016 aside, Rickie Fowler has come close to success here before. He ranked top 12 in 2015 and top 5 in his terrific year of 2014. Is he close to his 2014 frame, where he achieved T5’s at all four majors? Fowler thinks his recent win and form indicate he’s getting closer to winning his first Major.
“To win that early in the season on that golf course, and being out front and closing the deal, it has definitely helped,” Fowler said at Monday’s press conference. “And I think it showed from how well I’ve been swinging the past few weeks and then heading the right direction coming into this week.”
With his first US PGA tour win under his belt just two months ago, Rickie Fowler has the confidence, momentum, and a thriving game to capture his first Major. And perhaps add another tattoo.