Abu Dhabi: The Sunday of May 10, 2015 is very much fresh in the mind of Rickie Fowler as he sets his sights on the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. And undoubtedly, there is no better way to focus on the season than by drawing inspiration from that dramatic play-off victory at the Players Championship on TPC Sawgrass’s final nine holes.
The highlight of that win being the record-setting finish at the Stadium Course — birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on the last four holes for a 5-under 67 before going on to beat Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner in the three-man play-off.
“That back nine on Sunday including the play-off was a day that I will never forget!” said Fowler in an email interview with Gulf News.
“2015 was a very good year for me. I won three times around the world including that PGA Tour’s biggest event — The Players Championship,” said Fowler, who with that performance also joined the elite list of four players to have finished their round eagle-birdie-birdie — L Curtis Strange in 1989, Phil Mickelson in 1996, Tommy Tolles in 1997 and Charlie Wi in 2013.
More importantly, the triumph came at a time when he was voted as the most overrated player by their peers in an anonymous survey conducted by Sports Illustrated. The victory was the perfect answer to silence his critics.
This time, heading into the new season, the talk is all about whether he can crack into the group of the latest ‘Big Three’ — Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day — and call it the new age ‘Fab Four’.
Fowler is well aware that the answer to that solely lies in his game — and can be accomplished only with success.
“I begin 2016 as sixth in the world. I know that if I keep getting better and win major Championships I will stay in the conversation and continue to challenge these guys. That will be fun!,” said Fowler, who added he felt golf is clearly going through a transition period, but one very much for the better of the sport.
“Well, one thing I know for sure is that the game of golf is in a good place! Rory (McIlroy) has been on top of the world rankings for several years now and he is a few months younger than me … and I’ve just turned 27. What Jordan (Spieth) and Jason (Day) did in 2015 was awesome! To have those three guys at the top of the world rankings going into 2016, all still very young, is fantastic,” said Fowler, adding that one can’t have this dialogue without mentioning “Bubba, Henrik, Rosie, Patrick Reed, etc, and don’t forget about Zach … the 2015 Champion Golfer of the World at 39 years old! Golf is in a great spot.”
However, that elusive Major is once again very much on Fowler’s priority list.
“Standing on the 72nd hole as a Major Champion is a goal of mine every year, as it is for all of us out here competing! I improved in 2014 and again in 2015. I know that if I continue to work hard and improve, one day I will realise my dream to be a Major champion,” said the American star.
Another event on Fowler’s wish list is success at the World’s biggest sporting showpiece — the 2016 Rio Olympics — where his sport is making its debut.
“Competing for the United States and winning the gold medal is something I would cherish the rest of my life. It is definitely at the top of my list in 2016,” said Fowler, who also revealed that while representing his country, whether in the Ryder Cup, the President’s Cup, Walker Cup or different team events, he has played always with a “lot of fun and a real honour”.
Fowler’s solo fifth at the recently concluded Hyundai Tournament of Champions with a 20-under 272, 10 swings behind champion Spieth, is assurance that he is in good form coming into Abu Dhabi.
“I can’t wait to get back to Abu Dhabi — I really enjoyed my week there last year although I didn’t play as well as I would have liked and so I will be ready to come there and look for a good result to kick-start my 2016 season on a high,” asserted Fowler, who is keen to sharpen his strengths this season.
“When I drive the ball well and make putts, I play well. Those are strengths of my game but I still need to work hard to make them even stronger.” Additionally, there is quite a bit of room for improvement in my scoring game from 125 yards and in. I’m doing good work with Butch (Harmon) to tighten that up as well.”
