Most top golfers rest the week before a major. Rickie Fowler is not most golfers.
Fowler chose to compete in the Valero Texas Open this week— one week before the Masters Tournament— because he knows it will make him more confident when he arrives at Augusta National.
“I like playing competitively if I can leading up to majors or some big weeks,” Fowler said Tuesday at his Valero Texas Open press conference. “So for me, like I said, I played Houston in the past leading up to Augusta. I typically play the Scottish Open into the British (Open). Sometimes into the U.S. Open or the PGA (Championship)… I have definitely seen it be beneficial to play the week before.
“You know, you’re not far coming off competition when you tee it up Thursday morning in a major. It just makes me feel more comfortable, more confident.”
Fowler, the World No. 8, sits 10th in FedEx Cup rankings ahead of his debut at the Valero Texas Open at The Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio.
The 30-year-old is coming off two weeks rest after playing in four consecutive tournaments which he capped off by placed T-47 at The Players Championship.
Fowler’s two-week break fell during the Valspar Championship and last week’s WGC- Dell Technologies Match Play. The way the PGA Tour schedule shook out this year, Fowler said he knew if he played in the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship in late February plus the Honda Classic, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players, he wouldn’t be able to properly recover if he added on Match Play.
But having two weeks to recover was more important than picking up another tournament appearance.
“Obviously, it’s all about longevity and playing well throughout the season,” Fowler said. “It’s not just about a couple weeks here and there, so the two-week break is definitely needed… The two weeks I think is key when you can get those breaks. One week is really not enough for your body to shut down, recover and then go back out especially coming off of a four-week stretch.
“Everyone is different, I feel like this has been a nice start to the year and I want to continue that going on and then rest and time management is key to that.”
Fowler, a pro since 2009, is looking for his first major win after finishing second in the Masters last year, one-stroke behind Patrick Reed.
He’s had a solid start to the season, winning the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T-2 at The Honda Classic and T-4 at the Shiners Hospitals for Children Open.
Fowler is one of 16 golfers competing in the Valero Texas Open and in the Masters Tournament from April 11-14. The former Oklahoma State golfer and Jordan Spieth headline the players competing the Valero Texas Open.
The other 14 players competing in both tournaments are Lucas Bjerregaard, Tony Finau, Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes, Billy Horschel, Martin Kaymer, Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Andrew Landry, HaoTong Li, Adam Long, Kyle Stanley, Kevin Tway and Jimmy Walker.
Watch Fowler’s entire press conference below.
