Rickie Fowler’s rise up the Official World Golf Ranking has been fun to watch for golf fans this season after he struggled in recent years to stay consistent in his tournament rounds.
But his recent success will be put to the test at Austin Country Club this week in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, where his invitation to the Masters could be on the line.
The world’s top 50 golfers will be invited to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club later this week, with the main tournament beginning April 6.
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Rickie Fowler of the United States speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 21, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Fowler heads to Austin ranked 59th in the world. Although he’s been playing a lot better lately, he’ll need to stay focused if he wants to travel to Augusta in two weeks.
Fowler is confident he can do it, telling pgatour.com that his results last fall — a tied sixth-place finish in the Fortinet Championship and a tied second-place finish in the Championship from Zozo — helped him move up the ranks.
«Once I got some good results in the fall, that helped put me in a position where I knew what I could do and what was possible,» Fowler said. «I would say, after last year’s season, it was just, ‘Okay, let’s make a plan, let’s start from scratch.'»
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Rickie Fowler of the United States plays his shot from the 17th tee during the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Harry How/Getty Images)
That plan involved teaming up with their old swing coach, Butch Harmon, and mutually parting ways with their caddy, Joe Skovron. Fowler was once the No. 4 player in the world, but he started this year’s season ranked 185th.
«I knew what I was capable of, but I had to go in with no or low expectations and just put in the work,» Fowler said. «And it was definitely nice to see immediate progress or steps in the right direction.»
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Fowler, 34, remains one of the most recognizable faces on the field. He was the 2010 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year followed by four Ryder Cup appearances and three Presidents Cup appearances. However, Fowler has yet to win a major title in her career. He came close in August 2018, when he shot 14-under but missed by one stroke to Patrick Reed.
He might have another chance to win the green jacket. But first, you have to get it right in Austin. It will be match play this week, so it’s single elimination after group play.
Rickie Fowler of the United States plays a shot from the third tee during the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 22, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Fowler will have to come out of the group stage first, and he has some tough matchups. World No. 2 player Jon Rahm is in his group, as are Billy Horschel and Keith Mitchell. Horschel won the tournament two years ago.
«I’m going to have to play well all three days,» Fowler said, via pgatour.com.
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Fowler has amassed five PGA Tour wins throughout his career, including the 2015 Players Championship.