The burgeoning rivalry between Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler has potential to define a golfing era. While 2014 unquestionably belonged to McIlroy, it was Fowler who chased him down on a regular basis. There is obvious excitement over what duels will ensue between the pair, who are just six months apart in age, in future events.
“Rory is the best player in the world right now, he proved that last year,” Fowler, 26, said of his 25-year-old rival. “I am definitely looking forward to 2015, having some great match-ups with him and some of the other great young players. With Patrick Reed winning last week and Jordan Spieth winning twice at the end of last year, it looks like there could be a lot of fun.
“It’s not just 2015 to look forward to but the rest of our careers. We have a lot of time that we are going to be able to play against each other. This is really just the start of it. I feel like we are going to have some fun and heated battles at times.”
There is a key difference between McIlroy and Fowler, who were first acquainted at the Walker Cup in 2007. That is, the Northern Irishman has a proven track record of winning. Fowler’s new year ambition must be to improve on what was already a highly impressive major record – he finished fifth or better in all of them – last time around.
“Rory has strengths that maybe outweigh mine,” Fowler added on the eve of the HSBC Championship here. “When he is on top of his driving game, he is very tough to beat. When he does that, it frees up the rest of his game to play some fairly effortless golf.
“I feel like I putted better than he did through the summer. He may have had some better ball striking and he may have drove the ball better at times.
“I don’t feel like my game is weaker than his or anything like that. We have had some great battles and gone up against each other in final rounds last summer. I have come out on top a couple of times. Rory just happened to come out on top a few more times than me.”
Fowler was right to acknowledge the prominence of Spieth and Reed. The youthful trio have it within them to launch a cross-Atlantic charge on McIlroy’s status. They will also be important characters in the next playing of the Ryder Cup, with USA looking to improve on a dismal recent record when facing Europe at Hazeltine. “As far as a lot of the top young players go, I don’t think there is any lack of belief or confidence,” Fowler said. “The guys are winning golf tournaments, they are top players in the world.
“It is something that Rory definitely doesn’t lack. He doesn’t lack any belief in himself or confidence. It is not like he is cocky, he handles himself great on the golf course, but he definitely knows the game that he has. He believes in it, as he should; as any of the top players in the world should.
“And if you don’t have that, then you are not going to be able to compete at an elite level.”
Fowler’s importance in a Ryder Cup context is borne out by his presence as the youngest member of a US task force, which is aiming to find at least some solutions to an inauspicious run. That committee has met once and will do so again before a new captain – Fred Couples is the favourite – is chosen.
“I feel like the PGA’s main goal is to have players more involved in the process and feeling like we field the team together as one, feeling like we are all a little bit more invested in the team,” Fowler explained.
“I know we are looking forward to two years from now, seeing if we can put up a little bit better fight and seeing if we can get that Ryder Cup back.”
Fowler acknowledged he would “love to play for Freddie” in respect of the Couples debate. He also defended the actions of Phil Mickelson, who was openly critical of Tom Watson – the then USA captain – immediately after Europe’s success at Gleneagles in September.
“I think we were all surprised,” Fowler said. “I feel like Phil is in a position, the one guy to really say anything. I know with Phil sitting out for a day’s play, feeling like he didn’t get to do his part, he kind of had the right to do so [speak out]. I don’t think anything really bad has come of it.
“I think with the task force getting all of us together, getting guys more involved and feeling like we have a little bit more of a say in what is going on – whether it is who the captain is or who the assistants are, to guys that are picked – should have a very good impact.”
