Rickie Fowler - 50/1
“I just love links golf, especially hitting shots back into the wind. Downwind is fun, but playing the opposite way is better. You have to hit the ball in the middle of face and control the flight of the ball. That’s not quite the norm on tour. We play in windy conditions obviously - and the greens are firm on the PGA Tour - but the air over here is heavier and affects the ball a lot more." - Rick Yutaka Fowler
Lovely words from Pretty Ricky. I really look for players who enjoy the challenging conditions that an Open Championship provides, and it appears Ricky is one of them. I understand some peoples reservations about backing him in big events --- he only has 1 PGA Tour Win and is currently undergoing the final stages of a big swing change... But he has been outspoken about his wanting to gear up for the majors... And so far, under Butch Harmon's tutelage, that has proven to be a success this year. After a T5 at the Masters in April, he then came in 2nd to Martin Kaymer's United States Open Championship (as the 2014 US Open will forever be referred to as - what a performance that was!) in June. So he is absolutely trending in the right direction.
But we are playing the Open here, and he has also impressed with some fine finishes overseas. In 2010 he debuted at St Andrews to a T14, then followed that up at Royal St Georges with a T5. He then went on to T31 during the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes - before missing the cut last year at Muirfield. Of course I would have liked him to play better last year (which was one of the first majors I trusted him with a choice in one of my big choose any 10 golfers pools!), but 3 of 4 cuts made and 2 Top 15s is pretty solid.
Now you might notice my above price of 50/1 and say --- "Hey LP, he's available at 38-40/1 now.. What are you trying to pull???".. Well I would suggest to you my friends that you follow me on Twitter, as I happen to have called it perfectly (hey, I've been absolutely terrible this year, so I need to take my wins where I can get em, haha)!. I gave out my Rickie Fowler 50/1 pick on July 8th (last Tuesday) on Twitter with this description... "Have a feeling he shows well at this week's Scottish Open.Think that 50/1 might shrink a touch."... And low and behold its currently 38/1 on 5d after he tied for 8th at Royal Aberdeen. (Genius! Brilliant! - oh nevermind...)
That Recent Form is another reason I love this pick. He clearly has been peaking for the majors. He finished 6th at the SHO before the Masters, and finished 13th at the Fedex St Jude before the US Open. So last weeks T8 should be a good omen for Rickie this week. Hopefully! (The last 3 events he has played have been that 13th at FedEx, 2nd at US Open, and 8th at Scottish Open.... Sooooo confidence is sky high)..
That's it for my Outright writeups. But obviously we have plenty more to go through. Tomorrow will be a very busy day indeed! Lots of plays to post and players to analyze! So check back in then!
-LinksPicks