Sarah Stirk
With the spectre of the Saudi Golf League hanging over the game, it’s hard to look elsewhere for stories at the moment, but one thing that grabbed my attention recently was Rickie Fowler putting in a decent performance at the Wells Fargo Championship.
It brought back memories of Rickie’s first PGA Tour win at the same event ten years ago, when he seemed destined to take golf by storm. He followed that win up with a stellar 2014, where he finished runner-up to Rory in The Open at Hoylake and had top-five finishes in the other three Majors. Then came his 2015 Players Championship win – one of the best finishes to a golf tournament I’ve ever seen – and it appeared he was on the road to Major glory. ‘The best player not to have won a Major’ is a title that can weigh heavy, but to most observers, it appeared he wouldn’t have that burden for long. So what’s gone wrong over the past few years?
The most obvious place to start is his split from coach Butch Harmon, which came when Butch gave up coaching on tour in 2019 – the year Rickie recorded the last of his five PGA Tour wins. Butch actually says one of the main reasons he didn’t stop travelling earlier was that he wanted to help Rickie win his first Major. Fowler was still in the world’s top 20 back then, having peaked at 4 in 2016, but he now finds himself at 140. I was speaking to Butch recently about his relationship with Rickie and he talks so fondly of their time together and of the man himself. Indeed, all the dealings I’ve had with Fowler back that up. I know it may sound like a cliche, but he really is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. He always has time for the media and fans and I don’t know anyone with a bad word to say about him.
I asked Butch if he’s in contact with him at the moment and he said not so much. However, Rickie did drop by to see him before the CJ Cup in Las Vegas last October, where he recorded a T3 finish – his best on the PGA Tour since early 2019. Coincidence or not, it’s clear him and Butch had a special relationship that went far beyond just a swing coach. Butch says he’s sad to see his young friend struggling for form and also that he appears to have abandoned the work they did on getting his left-arm plane up instead of so flat. He seems to be battling his swing at the moment and he’s also admitted to toiling with the putter of late, which is something he’s not had to worry about in his career to date.
Rickie’s struggles got me thinking about what it is that sets the truly great players apart from the rest. When he first broke on to the scene it appeared he had everything going for him – good looks, a great personality, someone who could help make golf cool. It was as if we in the media were willing him to be the next big star because it was good for everyone. The fact he hasn’t quite delivered on that promise is not necessarily his fault. He has a young family and has obviously earned huge sums of money, so that passion to reach the very top may have been diluted in recent times. For me, it just highlights the drive you need to sustain a long career in this game.
Take Jordan Spieth. Like Fowler, he isn’t blessed with the perfect technique, but he grinds out victories. After the extraordinary start to his career he suffered his own slump in form, but he’s found a way back. Then you have players like Rory and JT, who have all the talent in the world but also seem to have that extra edge that wills them over the line. When these guys lose it’s obvious it hurts them badly, but that’s not necessarily the case with Fowler. It may be that he just lacks that ruthless streak.
Whatever the issues are, he’s still only 33 so has plenty of time to turn things around. He is clearly still working hard at his game with his current coach John Tillery, and there were glimpses of the old Rickie in Washington. If he does recapture some form, it can only be a good thing for the game. Perhaps another visit to his old mentor and friend in Vegas could be the key to helping him regain the confidence he’s clearly lacking. As Butch himself says, his door is always open.
“Rickie Fowler seemed destined for greatness, so what’s gone wrong?”