Open invitation
Published: 6/5/2008 2:22 PM
Last Modified: 6/5/2008 2:22 PM
The inquiry was purely innocent. "Do you mind if I play the next few holes with you," said the young golfer.
"Do I mind?" I responded. "Absolutely not!"
The two other players, a couple of radio guys from Elk City, in my pairing for a media day event at Karsten Creek last October had no idea who this young man was. I definitely knew this addition was going to provide the best golf shots by far coming out of this group.
Yes, I knew who Rickie Fowler was before he pulled up in his cart that day eight months ago. And I suspect many people, including those radio guys in Elk City, now know who Fowler is today.
Maybe come next week, a lot more people will find how talented a golfer this young man is. Fowler just finished off one of the best freshman seasons an OSU golfer has ever had. Fowler ended the season with two victories and eight other top-10 finishes in 13 tournaments played.
On Wednesday, Fowler learned he got into the U.S. Open after former PGA champion Shaun Micheel withdrew due to injury. Fowler was the first-alternate coming out of the Columbus, Ohio, sectional qualifier after losing out in a five-hole playoff that started early Monday evening and finished first thing Tuesday morning.
I'm waiting to hear back from Fowler about his Open opportunity. But in talking with him before the NCAA Championship, I knew he wanted to qualify for the Open desperately. The tournament will be played at Torrey Pines, just outside of San Diego and a little more than an hour from Fowler's hometown of Murrieta, Calif.
If everything goes according to his plan, next week will be the first of many U.S. Open appearances for Mr. Fowler. And if that plan does get fulfilled, maybe someday I can say I played a few holes of golf with a U.S. Open champion.
--- Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
