Rickie Fowler vows to outperform Rory McIlroy in the Open Championship
There aren't many players in this week’s Open Championship who can provide hope to the already beleaguered American public, but Rickie Fowler will still be looked upon as someone who can do what Rory McIlroy did last month - winning a major.
Starting off with a brilliant career as a rookie, Fowler has now slumped down the rankings after a sloppy season and is often called as the “most overrated player” by golf critics. Fowler is, however, little budged by the title and is hoping to do for his
country what MCIlroy has done for his.
“I would like to match him at some point. It is a good friendly rivalry we have,”
the 22-year-old said. “We are good buddies, we enjoy being around each other but at the end of the day we are both trying to push each other and beat each other and that is good. He is pushing me to play my best and work on my game and I hope
I can catch up to him.”
McIlroy and Fowler have drawn several commonalities in their careers and both being of the same age group, are often pitched against each other in the high profile events. Fowler and McIlroy were seen locking horns in the Ryder Cup last year where McIlroy
went over to win the cup for the European side.
They were also part of the opposition at the Walker Cup last year where the American and his team won the event and Fowler was later crowned as the Rookie of The Year, although the nomination later attracted huge controversy. But regardless of their respective
individual performances on the course, Fowler insisted that they remain close friends off-course.
“There is a rivalry but it is more friendly than people think. The last night of the Ryder Cup we were all hanging out after they beat us,” Fowler added.
The duo shares somewhat the same playing style apart from being of the same age group. They are both aggressive, owing the better part to their ages and both love to Tweet their thoughts openly whenever possible.
The difference, however, lies in the mere fact that McIlroy has achieved what many aspire to achieve their whole lives, in the short span of time, while Fowler is constantly falling behind the ranks, let alone catching up to his counterpart.
The Americans, for the moment, have decided to throw their weight behind the few possible contenders for the third major of the season, the Open Championship, starting this week at Royal St. George’s in Sandwich. Fowler will be reinforced by the likes of
Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney, Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar who are all ranked in the top-ten in Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
Americans have not won a major since Mickelson’s victory at the Masters in 2010.
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