Rickie Fowler Was Off to a Hot Start in Round 1 of the PGA Championship
For the third time this season, Rickie Fowler has shot 65 in a major championship. And at some point, you have to figure he is going to dial it in and put together four championship rounds.
One could make the argument that he did just that at the Masters earlier this season when he was just edged out by Patrick Reed for a solo-second finish.
But Fowler has one more chance to win a major championship before he enters his 30s. Even if it doesn’t come this week, the PGA Tour star is not worried in the slightest.
“I always have hope. I know Phil didn’t win until his 30s,” Fowler said after his round on Thursday. “I don’t know the exact numbers, but it’s not something I necessarily worry about. Keep putting ourselves in position, get in contention, we have had plenty of runner-ups, Jack had a lot of runner-ups…we’ll just keep beating down that door.”
The PGA alerted players before the tournament started that the greens would be watered more this week due to the hot conditions forecasted in St. Louis. Fowler, who is exceptionally good when it comes to soft and damp greens, took full advantage of that on Thursday. And likely will the rest of the week.
“I think we would all look at the course and see what the soft conditions it was going to play maybe easier than what you would typically see a PGA Championship play, but still a Major venue,” Fowler said. “It’s going to play longer, you’re not necessarily having a bunch of wedges in, and I think that one of the things I did a good job of and what may be helping this week and what we’ll stick to is not trying to overpower it or not try and get that extra, just get the ball in the fairway and I’ve always been a good mid-iron and long iron player.
“So you get me in the fairway and with the soft greens, I feel like we can pick apart the golf course and as long as we continue to play smart and within ourselves. So now it’s all can you do is get off to a good start Thursday and we did that.”
If you recall, Fowler shot a 65 at Augusta National during that damp Saturday at The Masters’ championship in April. Fowler put on a clinic as he stuck approach shots left and right, which also allowed him to gain confidence in his putting stroke nailing some mid-to-short putts.
If these conditions hold relatively true the rest of the week, then Fowler may be able to pull away with his first major championship on Sunday afternoon.
