Four wins doesn't seem like much for someone of his immense talent and yes, I mean immense. Rickie now has 3 top 10s in his first four events to start off his 2017 campaign. Last year he had his lowest career scoring average but did not claim a PGA Tour victory. He has had many close calls where he just didn't quite get it done on Sunday. Before today, Rickie was 0-4 in turning his 54 hole leads into victories. That can certainly wear on a person when they fail to close and think is it ever going to happen?
I believe the turning point was when Rickie really acknowledged it. He even did it in the media center. Rickie said he believed it is time he started to finish some of these leads and turn them into wins. A top 10-20 player of his caliber is measured by victories and Rickie has basically been that caliber since 2012 when he won his first tournament at Quail Hollow. Sometimes all it takes is to verbalize something and make it real, and then take steps to change it.
The best part is it couldn't have happened to a better person. Rickie is an absolute star in the media center, with his massive fan base of bright orange lookalikes. Who relates more with the kids than Rickie Fowler? He hardly has a bad word to say about anyone or anything. Johnny Miller said after his round that Rickie really didn't finish like a 'true champion'. I believe that he stared adversity in the face after making double on 6 and bounced back over his next 9 holes with 4 birdies. I believe that is the mark of a true champion.
How many times did Tiger Woods go out and shoot around even par and win? Did Johnny Miller say he wasn't a true champion? Of course not. Rickie handled it beautifully saying "Hey, a win's a win."
"Never panic, just manage."
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