Colourful contender Rickie Fowler aiming to take Major step forward

As grey clouds shrouded the skies over the Auld' Gray Toon, Rickie Fowler – as he does – brought a bit of colour. Down by the practice range, he did the high-five thing with Bubba Watson and chit-chatted while spectators, many with Hole 18 pin flags, sought his autograph. He duly obliged, just as someone with star appeal should do.

And the sense of expectation surrounding in-form Fowler as he heads into the British Open on the Old Course at St Andrews is palpable. For a good reason, too.

In the absence of world number one Rory McIlroy, recuperating from an ankle injury that has forced him to miss his defence of the Claret Jug and which has left a question mark over his fitness to defend next month's US PGA, Fowler is the one who has filled the gap as a young gun rival to Jordan Spieth.

Credentials

Although Fowler has yet to win a Major, he has shown his credentials. Last year, he finished top-10 in all four, including runner-up to McIlroy at Hoylake.

This season, he won the Players championship on the PGA Tour and fine-tuned for the British Open by winning the Scottish Open at Gullane on Sunday. The task is to halt Spieth’s momentum – easier said than done.

It seems every question thrown in Fowler’s direction includes a mention of McIlroy and/or Spieth, as if he has somehow inveigled a way into the power show. But there is a missing link, one that Fowler is only too aware of: he has yet to win a Major championship.

Of playing catch-up on four-time Major champion McIlroy and two-time Major champion Spieth, Fowler acknowledged: “A good start [in catching up] would be to become a Major champion, and that’s something I have always dreamed of and have wanted to accomplish. Jordan has been playing amazing golf, and Rory has been doing that for quite some time. I have some work to do. I need to continue winning. I think that’s the biggest thing, putting myself in positions to win. I can’t worry about them, or other players, I’ve just got to keep working hard and take care of my business.”

Different route

Fowler took quite a different route to St Andrews than Spieth. While he sought out links preparation at Gullane, and won, Spieth stayed loyal to the John Deere Classic and also won. One was on site at St Andrews by Sunday night; the other, Spieth, arrived a day later with all of the jet lag that goes with transatlantic flying.

Would that give Fowler an edge? No, according to Fowler. “Travel hasn’t stopped him winning [before],” he said, pointing out that Spieth won the Australian Open at the end of last season and then flew on to Florida to win the Hero World Challenge at Isleworth the following week.

For Fowler, it is about stepping up to the mark. And he can do so with his lucky ball marker safely returned.

At one point of a practice round yesterday, Fowler – playing a match with Miguel Angel Jimenez – had marked his ball but, as it happened, didn't need to putt. He forgot to retrieve the marker and only realised his error on the next hole. Momentary concern was relieved when Jimenez returned it to him.

“The coin has worked well, I’m surprised he didn’t keep it,” quipped Fowler.