Fowler hungry for major championship

Rickie Fowler - Cropped

Golf's bridesmaid in the majors in 2014, Rickie Fowler is hungry to break through and win one of the four titles this season.

The American finished in the top five at each of The Masters, US Open, The Open Championship and PGA Championship - with a tied for fifth at Augusta his worst result of the lot.

Fowler was six shots behind two-time green jacket winner Bubba Watson, before Martin Kaymer blitzed the field to win by five shots - with Fowler tied for second.

Excruciatingly, Fowler was only two shots off Rory McIlroy at each of the PGA and The Open Championships - the Northern Irishman winning on both occasions, and the latter sending him back to the top ranking.

Despite the consistent performance across the majors - Fowler was the third man to finish top five in all four in one year - the 26-year-old was not settling for near misses.

"Playing the week before definitely helps me, it helps set me up for the Thursday at the majors and also my patience was very good last year in the majors," said Fowler, who is ranked 12th in the world.

"I was [in the process of] understanding that it is a long week and I had to just keep moving forward and stay away from making many mistakes as possible and especially big mistakes. 

"I was able to put myself in good positions and unfortunately ran into two guys who ran away with it, especially Martin Kaymer at the US Open, he never gave us a chance and with Rory McIlroy at The Open, I was able to give him a little run at the end but he had enough of a lead and was in control of his game at the time. 

"I look back and the PGA was my best chance but I didn't put the back nine together that I needed and I didn't get the ball close enough and didn't make birdies after 10 so I am definitely hungry for one this year."

Fowler said his preparation for The Masters, starting April 9, was on track, ahead of the Houston Texas Open starting Thursday.

"I spent three days with my coach last week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and got some really good work in and got to play some golf with him and a lot of our work is simple and fun and we go out and have a good time whether it is hitting balls on the range or going out to play," he said.

"I am still working on a lot of the same things and stay away from getting too long which is an old habit of mine and I need to continue to keep the body moving well through the impact and the head was hanging back causing me to flip it."

Author(s)