Rickie Fowler was asked on Friday, after a second round 64 put him in a tie for the lead at the PGA Tour's Frys.com Open, if he was still planning on going through Q-School next week to try and earn his tour card for 2010."Right now that's still the plan. First stage is starting next Tuesday," Fowler told PGATour.com.
The crazy thing is, he might not have to if he keeps this up. Fowler, just 20-years-old and playing in his second event on the PGA Tour as a professional, is tied for the lead at 11-under after rounds of 65-64, making one more eagle (2) than he's made bogeys (1) the last two days at Greyhawk Golf Course.
Fowler, who announced he was turning pro just a month ago, is scheduled to take on the grind of the PGA Tour Q-School, but a win at the Frys would completely mute that idea, giving him a two-year exemption on tour and making him the Tiger Woods of the 2000s.
The young professional will have to fend off a rather impressive group at the top of the leaderboard for such a small event, including Justin Leonard, who is a shot back at 10-under, and Ryan Moore, who was the early decade's Ricky Fowler.
Sure, we're 36 holes away from this event ending, but the way he's strutted around Greyhawk, you can feel the confidence steaming off of this kid. His first tournament last week as a pro, he finished t-7. This week, he's birdied his final two holes both days. If he wins, it might be the most unexpected surprise since Phil Mickelson won as an amateur in 1991 in this same state.
Greg Owen, who is currently 116th on the PGA tour money list, is tied atop the leaderboard with Fowler.
