Rickie Fowler: Rising to the Top of Golf

October 12, 2015October 13, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Rickie Fowler is a rising star. He is a hungry lion who is proving that the young players on the PGA Tour are here to stay. After turning pro in 2009 at the age of 21, Fowler has steadily improved his standing within the professional ranks. Since the moment he emerged on tour, he has been touted as one of the future stars of golf.

Exactly one year ago, I predicted that Rickie Fowler would have a breakout year in 2015. His steady improvement over his first 5 years of professional golf was a great indicator that Fowler’s time had arrived. However, many pundits and critics suggested that Fowler was on over-rated player who did not meet the hype ‘they’ built early in Fowler’s career.

In 2015, Fowler finished with 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third and 7 to 10s. He won the Players Championship, the Deutsche Bank Championship, and, most recently, helped the US win the Presidents Cup. Fowler finished 4th in the FEDEXCUP and finished 5th in the world ranks as if this article. Not bad for an over-rated player.

As great of a season that Fowler had, there were still golf analysts, as late as August, suggesting that Fowler is a flash in the pan. He would not sustain his great play and doubted if he was one of the future superstars of golf. Of course, when comparing Fowler to Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, all players look a full tier below the two best golfers in the world. But, as I stated in earlier posts, Fowler is ready to be included as one of the future stars of golf.

Since losing his swing coach in May 2011, Barry McDonnell, Fowler tried to find his own way with moderate success. He had a great 2014 season, however something was still missing. In January of this year, he found it in Butch Harmon. Harmon has worked with many of the great players over the years, and Fowler’s choice to work with Harmon immediately paid dividends.

Harmon is best known for having been Tiger Woods’ golf coach from 1993 to 2004, though they have since gone their separate ways. In April 2007, it was announced that Harmon would start working with Phil Mickelson. He has also worked with other major champions such as Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard, and with younger stars such as Nick Watney, Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Dustin Johnson,Natalie Gulbis, and most recently Jimmy Walker and Brandt Snedeker. (Wikipedia)

Fowler is a unique player. He is traditionally a slow starter. He reminds me of a snowball being rolled down a hill. At first it is small and unimpressive; but, as it is helped down the hill it starts to grow bigger and bigger. Eventually, it has enough momentum that it rolls by itself and enough mass that everyone starts to take notice. Well, that is Rickie Fowler to a tee! Each year, Fowler starts off slow, but by the end of the season he is a force that is noticed and sometimes feared!

Rickie Fowler had a breakout year in 2015. He exceed all expectations and although overshadowed by Spieth and Day, he is now considered a rising superstar in golf. Rickie Fowler is already a fan favorite and if he continues to improve his game, he will be a multiple Major winner very soon! Congratulations Rickie on a great 2015 professional golf season!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Golf Tip on Putting

October 11, 2015October 7, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Golf Etiquette for Junior Players

October 10, 2015October 7, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

This infographic is from the International Junior Golf Academy. I have no affiliation with the IJGA, but I thought the information on course etiquette is valuable for all golfers!

What do you think?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links

Just Being Grateful!

October 9, 2015October 8, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

This picture just makes me grateful for golf! Sometimes the most beautiful scenes in golf happen at the any time!

How about you?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Golf Tip – Marking Your Ball on the Green

October 8, 2015October 7, 2015 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

Marking your ball on the green is as important as making coffee in the morning! There is a procedure to each that if performed properly can have a positive impact on your day. For most of us, marking your ball is a routine action that we give very little thought to when playing.

Here is all the basic details on how and why marking your ball is important:

As I reviewed the video, I was surprised by the first statement about one ball striking another on the green. So I checked the rules and this is what I found:

Rule 19-5a. If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty, unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes.

I did not know this rule! During a competition I always mark my ball, so this rule would never apply. However, during our weekly matches we often leave our ball unmarked while one of us is putting. Well, I will stop that practice immediately.

On a side note, I always thank the player for moving his marker. It is my way of reminding the player to move it back. I realize that it could be construed as aiding another player, but I guess in the big scheme of things, I would rather win by shooting a lower score, not by the player incurring a needless penalty!

I am grateful golfer! See you on the links!