Rickie Fowler is two weeks into his PGA Tour career and by anybody's yard stick -- even one belonging to the guy with the big yacht -- things are going exceptionally well.
Fowler, only months removed from his sophomore year at Oklahoma State where he was the top-ranked player in both college and amateur golf, made his PGA Tour pro debut two weeks ago in Las Vegas by finishing seventh in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. On Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., he tied for second in the Frys.com Open, losing to
Troy Matteson in a three-way playoff.
That means Fowler, playing on a pair of sponsor's exemptions, has made $553,700 in two tournament appearances. Not bad for a 20 year old.
Even better, it also means, although not a PGA Tour member, he is the equivalent of 136th on this season's money list, and with two events still remaining has time to reach the top 125 and earn exempt status for next season without going to qualifying school.
Since 1980 the only players to earned their way to the PGA Tour without facing qualifying are
Gary Hallberg,
Justin Leonard,
Tiger Woods,
Ryan Moore and
Charles Howell III.
Not bad company.
Even if he falls short of that target, the special temporary membership earned by the current money-list standing allows Fowler to skip this week's first round of Q-school, and most likely will send him straight to the final stage.
"I knew I was capable of coming out and competing," Fowler said. "But to finish tied for seventh and then tied for first, and lose in a playoff ... pretty quick start."
That's one way of putting it. Here's another. Fowler has yet to record a round outside of the 60s. He carded rounds of 67-64-69-68 (16-under) in Las Vegas before going 65-64-69-64 (18-under) at Scottsdale.
And another thing: Two weeks. Two tournaments. Two holes-in-one.
"My expectations were to have two fun weeks and play as well as I could," he said.
What's not to like so far?
No question Fowler brings game. He's feisty and aggressive, a personality trait likely earned in competitive motocross, a sport in which his father is a champion. He helped lead the U.S. to victory in this summer's Walker Cup, putting up a perfect 4-0 record in the match-play competition.
There's very little finesse to his attack, which goes well with a head of wild hair and a face that earns actor Leonardo DiCaprio comparisons.
Another sure sign there's something a little different about Fowler, he does not have a swing coach.
"I don't really have any coaches," he said. "I'm kind of my own thing. Yeah, I'm not the typical junior golfer or amateur golfer coming out these days. I don't have a swing coach, mental coach, all of those people following me around. Kind of me, my caddie and my parents."
Although it is wise not to rush to a conclusion of future greatness, Fowler's late-season arrival is a perfect tonic for the dog days of the tour schedule.
Plenty of others before him have revved up early expectations, only to sputter into the background. But Fowler is interesting.
"Right now, I'm gonna play Viking," he said of this week's tour stop in Madison, Miss. "The plans are still to go to Q School.
"I'm going in with the same game plan I did those last two. Seemed to work out pretty well, these last two weeks. So we'll see what happens next."
So far, there's good reason to watch.
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Players take part in a practice round at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on October 27, 2009 two days before the start of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament. The European Tour is co-sanctioning the tournament for the first time with the Asian Tour, leading to a stellar cast of players keen to improve their standing in the Race to Dubai. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / HO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKATOS/AFP/Getty Images)
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CASARES, SPAIN - OCTOBER 27: The Volvo World Match Play Championship competitors (L-R Back Row), Sergio Garcia of Spain, Anthony Kim of USA, Martin Kaymer of Germany, Ross Fisher of England, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Robert Allenby of Australia, Lee Westwood of England, Camilo Villegas of Colombia and Angel Cabrera of Argentina, (L-R Front Row) Paul Casey of England, Retief Goosen of South Africa, Oliver Fisher of England, Scott Strange of Australia, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Simon Dyson of England and Jeev Milkha Singh of India pose for a group photo prior to the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin on October 27, 2009 in Casares, Spain. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sergio Garcia;Anthony Kim;Martin Kaymer;Ross Fisher
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Players take part in a practice round at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on October 27, 2009 two days before the start of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament. The European Tour is co-sanctioning the tournament for the first time with the Asian Tour, leading to a stellar cast of players keen to improve their standing in the Race to Dubai. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / HO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKATOS/AFP/Getty Images)
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US golfer Phil Mickelson (C) of the US takes part in an official practice round at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on October 27, 2009 two days before the start of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament. Mickelson on October 27 described his topsy-turvy year as "interesting and unique" as the world number two gets back to his best after a break to help wife Amy battle breast cancer. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / HO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKATOS/AFP/Getty Images)
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US golfer Phil Mickelson speaks during a press conference at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on October 27, 2009 two days before the start of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament. Mickelson described his topsy-turvy year as "interesting and unique" as the world number two gets back to his best after a break to help wife Amy battle breast cancer. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / HO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKATOS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Golfer Adam Scott of Australia speaks during a press conference at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on October 27, 2009 two days before the start of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament. Scott vowed to come back a better player as he slowly rebuilds his game after a miserable season. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / HO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKATOS/AFP/Getty Images)
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Golfer Adam Scott of Australia speaks during a press conference at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore on October 27, 2009 two days before the start of the Barclays Singapore Open golf tournament. Scott vowed to come back a better player as he slowly rebuilds his game after a miserable season. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / HO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKATOS/AFP/Getty Images)
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This handout provided by World Sport Group shows Padraig Harrington of Ireland during an official practice round at Sentosa Golf Club, on the Serapong Course, Singapore on October 27, 2009. The European Tour is co-sanctioning the tournament for the first time with the Asian Tour, leading to a stellar cast of players keen to improve their standing in the Race to Dubai. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group / HO (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKAT0S/AFP/Getty Images)
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This handout provided by World Sport Group shows Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand during an official practice round at Sentosa Golf Club, on the Serapong Course, Singapore on October 27, 2009. The European Tour is co-sanctioning the tournament for the first time with the Asian Tour, leading to a stellar cast of players keen to improve their standing in the Race to Dubai. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group / HO (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKAT0S/AFP/Getty Images)
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This handout provided by World Sport Group shows Chapchai Nirat (R) of Thailand kissing compatiot Thongchai Jaidee during an official practice round at Sentosa Golf Club, on the Serapong Course, Singapore on October 27, 2009. The European Tour is co-sanctioning the tournament for the first time with the Asian Tour, leading to a stellar cast of players keen to improve their standing in the Race to Dubai. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group / HO (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKAT0S/AFP/Getty Images)
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This handout provided by World Sport Group shows Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand during an official practice round at Sentosa Golf Club, on the Serapong Course, Singapore on October 27, 2009. The European Tour is co-sanctioning the tournament for the first time with the Asian Tour, leading to a stellar cast of players keen to improve their standing in the Race to Dubai. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE AFP PHOTO / Paul Lakatos / World Sport Group / HO (Photo credit should read PAUL LAKAT0S/AFP/Getty Images)
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