The Masters: Rickie Fowler is the ‘next Mickelson,’ not the ‘next Garcia’
Rickie Fowler came so close to capturing his first major, but ultimately finished just one point behind Patrick Reed. But the confidence and deft shot making he displayed on the final day was an indicator of what’s to come for the American talent.
Fowler didn’t win The Masters this year, but he came ever so near. And he rallied in the last two days, unlike the dip he suffered in the last two rounds in 2017.
Last year, he demonstrated the talent people have been talking about for so long by shooting a 67 on the second day, putting himself in contention, but the time day four rolled around, he wilted under the pressure and shot a dismal 76 and 4-over par, giving away all the ground he had made up on the day he made the cut. With Sergio Garcia finally winning his first major, talk shifted to Fowler as the “new Garcia.”
Going into the first major of this year, was it going to be another repeat for Fowler? He started out the first round two under par, but kept even on the day he made the cut. What became exciting, however, was how he rose to the occasion on day three and the final day, especially. Fowler not only did not buckle under pressure, but deftly rode under the radar on day three, with a brilliant eagle on hole two, and an impressive five birdies to score a 65 on “moving day.”
But right when it looked like Jordan Spieth—already a multiple major winner—and Reed were heading to a playoff, Fowler glided right past Spieth with five birdies on the back nine to skate ever so close to force a possible playoff himself between Reed and himself. But Reed was just too good and closed in on the 19th with -15.
If only Fowler hadn’t boogied the fifth hole, this would have been a much different outcome.
Fowler is one of the more flamboyant players on tour, long on charisma and a strategic marketer who is just as good at collecting endorsements as he is at playing golf. This is as much of a testament to his well-liked personality as it is to his talent. It’s no wonder that he was the first to congratulate Reed when he finished.
His Top Five finish at all four majors in 2014—without winning—still stands alone. Many thought he would have converted one of those top finishes into a title already. Like Sunday again, it truly almost happened. Instead of choking, he steeled his nerves. Instead of being more flash than substance, he flew under everyone’s radar.
Next: Complete List of U.S. Open Winners
Phil Mickelson was 33 when he won his first major. Perhaps Rickie Fowler isn’t so much the ‘new Sergio Garcia’ as he is more like the great “Lefty.”
“Obviously I want to be the one standing on top after the four rounds,” Fowler said in his presser afterwards. “But this is — if anything, it’s a step forward and makes me feel better about going forward into our next major, the U.S. Open.
“It’s going to be fun,” he added. “I feel like this is a year to knock off our first.”
It seems that the great American golf talent finally believes. And so do we.