Fowler’s lead-up to Masters
Golfer one of 16 also playing Valero Texas Open
Many of the game’s top golfers rest the week before a major.
Rickie Fowler, instead, goes to work. Fowler’s path to Magnolia Lane and next week’s Masters in Augusta, Georgia, includes a stop in the Lone Star State for this week’s Valero Texas Open, where he’ll kick in his competitive nature and sharpen his form ahead of the first major of the year.
“I like playing competitively, if I can, leading up to majors or some big weeks,” Fowler said this week. “I have definitely seen it be beneficial to play the week before. You know, you’re not far coming off competition when you tee it up Thursday morning in a major. It just makes me feel more comfortable, more confident.”
That comfort level could be challenged as Fowler makes his debut in the Valero Texas Open. For the first time on Tuesday, he played the Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, a tight, tree-lined layout featuring plenty of hazardous native areas.
“A lot of people have told me that it could be a golf course that really suits me well,” Fowler said. “The wind can pick up here. I love playing in the wind, but that obviously makes it tough. And you’ve got to drive the ball well to give yourself opportunities. With the native areas and the deep bunkers, you’ve got to avoid the hazards or whatever they call it now, penalty areas or something. It’s a good ball-striker’s golf course.”
At No. 8, Fowler is the highest-ranked player in the Valero Texas Open. He is coming off two weeks of rest after making four consecutive starts, which included a tie for second in the Honda Classic and concluded with a tie for 47th in The Players Championship after he got sick on the eve of the PGA Tour’s flagship event.
The break meant he missed the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, won Sunday by Kevin Kisner. But with this year’s compact schedule due to The Players moving to March and the PGA Championship to May, Fowler knew he had to skip top-flight golf tournaments to properly rest and recharge between starts. He is one of just 16 players in the Texas Open field who are also playing in the Masters, a list that includes 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth.
“Obviously, it’s all about longevity and playing well throughout the season,” Fowler said. “The two weeks I think are key when you can get those breaks. One week is really not enough for your body to shut down, recover and then go back out, especially coming off a four-week stretch.
“Everyone is different. I feel like this has been a nice start to the year, and I want to continue that going on, and rest and time management is key to that.”
The nice start included a victory in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his fifth PGA Tour title. His titles, however, don’t include a major championship. Thus, his name will pop up as the Masters looms and people start talking about who the best current player in the game is who hasn’t won a major.
In golf’s four biggest events, he is 0-for-36, but the talent is evident. He has eight top-5s in majors, including runner-up in last year’s Masters when Patrick Reed held on for a one-shot win.
“I’ve won The Players, which is the strongest field we play in. I know I can win and beat the best players in the world,” Fowler said. “Obviously, timing has to be right and you have to play well at those right weeks. I keep feeling more and more comfortable in majors.”
“Obviously, it’s all about longevity and playing well throughout the season. The two weeks I think are key when you can get those breaks. One week is really not enough for your body to shut down, recover and then go back out, especially coming off a four-week stretch.” Rickie Fowler