Fansided

Rickie Fowler feels the best is yet to come as he prepares to turn 30

By David Salituro

NASSAU, BAHAMAS - NOVEMBER 28: Rickie Fowler of the United States plays a shot during the pro-am as a preview for the 2018 Hero World Challenge at the Albany Club on November 28, 2018 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
NASSAU, BAHAMAS - NOVEMBER 28: Rickie Fowler of the United States plays a shot during the pro-am as a preview for the 2018 Hero World Challenge at the Albany Club on November 28, 2018 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) /
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Rickie Fowler, the defending champion at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this week, turns 30 on Dec. 13 but feels he’s just getting started.

On the verge of a milestone birthday celebration, Rickie Fowler isn’t in any hurry to add to his legacy on the PGA Tour.

Fowler’s no longer the young star that burst onto the tour in 2009 and captivated golf fans with his long hair and colorful, orange clothing. He turns 30 on Dec. 13, making his last start as a 20-something at the Hero World Challenge this week. He feels, however, like he’s just beginning the best years of his career.

“I’ve always heard that the 30s was your prime, so we’re just getting into it,” he said on Wednesday at Albany in the Bahamas, where he’s defending champion.

Last year Fowler came from seven shots back on Sunday, beginning his final round with seven straight birdies on his way to an 11-under 61 and a four-shot victory over Charley Hoffman. While not an official PGA Tour event, that remains Fowler’s last win anywhere. He’s won four times on the PGA Tour, the last in 2017 at the Honda Classic, a surprisingly small number for a man who’s been among the most popular players in golf for the past decade.

Fowler, though, believes the next few years will give him plenty of opportunities to add to his win total.

“No, I don’t see any kind of rush or anything like that,” he said. “I look at the next five to 10 years as the time to take advantage of things.”

One thing that’s missing from Fowler’s career is a major championship. He has nine top-10s in majors, finishing fifth or better in all four in 2014 and runner-up at the Masters last April. He admits the reason he’s yet to have that major breakthrough is because he simply tries too hard in the big events.

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“I think some of it is, at times, wanting it too much. Maybe pushing too hard. Just go out and have some fun.”

Fowler made his pro debut on the PGA Tour in 2009, losing in a playoff in just his second start. He earned his first win at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2012, and won the Players Championship in 2015, his biggest win so far. During the decade he’s spent on the PGA Tour, he feels like he’s matured as both a player and a person and says he’s only getting better even after all these years.

“I definitely feel like every year I’ve learned more about what we do out here, playing week in and week out,” Fowler said. Learning more about myself. My game has continued to get better, I feel like.”

If Fowler is going to repeat this week, he’s going to have to put all that knowledge to use. The Hero World Challenge features 18 of the best players in the world. Seven of the top 10 in the World Golf Rankings are in the field this week, and that doesn’t even include the tournament’s host, Tiger Woods.

Now that his 20s are almost over, Fowler’s taking his own advice to just some fun and is ready for the next stage of his career.

“It’s been a fun ride,” he said. “I think the best is yet to come.”

Fowler begins his title defense in the Bahamas on Thursday with Dustin Johnson at 12:16 p.m. EST.

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