What they said: Rickie Fowler

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Stan Badz/PGA TOUR

Rickie Fowler cruised through q-school to earn his card last December.

SONY OPEN AT HAWAII: Transcript archive

JOHN BUSH: We will get started. We would like to welcome Rickie Fowler into the interview room at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Ricky, welcome, this is your ninth career tournament on the PGA TOUR. You had some good ones last year, a runner up finish at Frys.com Open. Comment on the new year and look back at last year.

RICKIE FOWLER: I'm definitely really excited to get a full year out here. Like you said, I've gotten to play in some events, some of the amateur and some of the pro. I'm looking forward to get a full year and not having to worry about getting spots or anything like that. I'm guaranteed into most tournaments, I've struggled getting into a couple, but being able to get a full season out here would be nice.

Q. Reflect back on that Q School experience and getting your card?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yes, I didn't have as much trouble as a lot of people do have or dealing with a lot of the stress that can go along with Q School.

I was playing really well through the Fall Series and was playing really well going into Q School. I knew my game was where I wanted to be and just went out and had some ups and downs. Just kind of held it together for 6 days and kept moving forward and it worked out.

JOHN BUSH: Questions?

Q. Did you start slower there?

RICKIE FOWLER: Well, the first day of Q School played a little tough. I didn't play great, but I held it together. I played my last few holes fairly well to stay in it and finish a few over. It could have been a lot worse. So I kept myself in it. It did play tough. Troy played really well that day, he shot 67. So I just kept everything moving forward that week.

Q. Is there pressure knowing that, it seems like a lot of guys on TOUR when you ask who is going to emerge this year as a new star, it seems like everybody says you?

RICKIE FOWLER: I mean there is the pressure, but I've had to deal with that with a little bit of junior and amateur golf, college golf. And then with the expectations that came with that, I think that's helped me to deal with them how I did.

The Fall series, in a way people expected me to play well, not as well as I did, I don't think. I didn't real expect myself to go out and do that. I knew it was a long shot to get all the way exempt to third stage and to have a chance to get my card with the few events that I had.

So like I said, I'm just excited to have a full year out here.

If we keep our card, if we win an event, or win multiple events, or go back to Q School, that's just going to be nice to play a full year and kind of cruise around.

Q. How do you deal with pressure? Do you just block it on it or do you let it fuel you, what do you do?

RICKIE FOWLER: It depends what people are talking about. For the most part, I will look at or read whatever. I'm not afraid to read or hear what people say. I kind of listen in a way, in one year and out the other and just go out and play golf and do my thing like I always have.

Q. But you can read?

RICKIE FOWLER: I can read, yes. I've learned how to read back probably four or five.

(Laughter.)

Q. This is an odd question, but you have been on a magazine cover, had some big features stories written about you, what have you done to deserve that? Why are they doing that?

RICKIE FOWLER: Well, you know, I feel like I had a pretty good amateur career playing in two Walker Cups. I came out in the end with a great record. I lost one match.

Q. Walker Cup?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yes, in the Walker Cup. Outside of that, we almost won the World Amateur as a team. I won individually. I felt like I helped lead our team through a couple of good seasons. It was unfortunate that we went into Match Play for NCAA's there the last year there.

But with the way I played in the amateur golf, and the way I played in the Fall series there at the end, I felt like in a way I exceeded expectations. I exceeded my own.

I was going out to play Vegas and Frys and move onto the first stage of Q School and just get two weeks of playing and staying in the swing of things and wound up going Top 10 and going to Viking. That ended up getting cancelled and going to Disney, make a full Fall Series out of it.

I don't make the decisions, if it's deserved or not for the magazines, but I think the stories and the covers so far turned out pretty cool.

Q. What do you have to do to stay there?

RICKIE FOWLER: I guess just keep meeting the expectations. But I'm not worried about it if I'm on magazines, or in magazines. Like I said about pressure, what people talk about or the press, I'll listen to what everyone is saying, or read, whatever, and I will just kind of, once I'm on the course, just go out, and me and my caddy, Joe, and try to play the golf course and do our thing.

Q. Not so much just magazine covers, but in your opinion, what do have you to do to stay part of the conversation?

RICKIE FOWLER: First year out, as long and you are out there making cuts, and at least put yourself in contention at times. People know that it's tough to be in contention every week. There is not very many guys that can do that.

You got to have some weeks off. I have realized that a little bit through college golf and amateur golf. You can't always been on. There is times where you just have to slap it around for the week and try to get away with the best you can. If you are on that week, go for it, and try to win. I'll try to do the best that I can every week and hopefully keep people interested.

Q. Do you feel all of the prominent players know who you are? Have there been any surprises with somebody coming up to you saying, hey Rickie, maybe you didn't know would have known you?

RICKIE FOWLER: No, not yet. I've gotten to know quite a few of the guys just by playing as an amateur in a few events and then with the Fall Series. So nothing crazy like.

Q. No like, welcome to the PGA TOUR moment, nothing like that?

RICKIE FOWLER: No, not really.

There have been guys that have come up, and said, hey, especially in the Fall Series, or when I was playing as an amateur guys came up and said, hey, if there is anything you need, we're here to help type of thing.

Q. Which guys?

RICKIE FOWLER: [Aaron] Baddeley came up to me in Vegas. I had met him briefly before that. He came up and introduced himself again. Said anything you need. I've played with Mathias Gronberg and Vance Veazey at Q School, they are both there and they said if you ever need anything, type of thing.

Then I have had all of the Oklahoma State guys that have helped me out a lot just with kind of making the transition; always being there for me.

And then one of the main guys, Tom Pernice, I've mentioned him before in the media room. He has helped me quite a bit. I've spent a lot of time with him back home. We are both from the same town. We play a lot together. He was one of the first guys that really took me under his wing and helped me out.

Q. He is one of the most opinionated guys, too, did he tell you about that?

RICKIE FOWLER: He definitely has his side. He is not afraid to let you know how he feels with certain things. He is an awesome guy. Like I said, he has helped me out quite a bit, and I thanked him for everything he has done for me. We have a great time together back memo.

Q. With is your caddy's last name?

RICKIE FOWLER: Skovron.

Q. Rickie, there is lot of great college golfers that try to come out here and compete, some do well and some don't, what parts of your game in particular fit the professional game that PGA game that might make you more successful than others or made you successful in the fall?

RICKIE FOWLER: I feel like I'm fairly well rounded. I feel like if I get the putter going, I can start dropping some putts. As long as we are driving it and hitting the irons all right, then those will be birdies. I feel like I can hang in there and fight and keep away from the bad rounds, or letting those get out of hand. Kind of fighting through things and holding the rounds together when they can get out of hand. I haven't spent much time out here, which I said, I'm excited to get the full year. I'm excited to see how I deal with the full year out here.

Q. What is your schedule this week, next week and then?

RICKIE FOWLER: I will go here to hope, San Diego, and then from there kind of wait and see exactly if I do get a spot to LA, it kind of depends on what we do the next four or five weeks.

Q. Can young guys like you learn from what Tiger has been now through in terms of scrutiny, stuff like that?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yes, especially when you get as high profile as him, it's tough to keep things from getting out, from everyone to know.

So just kind of learning that there is people watching at all times. Kind of making sure that we act how we should be wherever we are. Like I said, it seems to be like there would always been someone who would know who is around, so we just got to kind of stay on our best behavior and keep representing the PGA TOUR how we should.

Q. Rickie, is this your first time playing in Hawaii?

RICKIE FOWLER: It is.

Q. How do you like the course?

RICKIE FOWLER: I've been around it one full time now. I played 9 yesterday and I played 9 this morning. The course is awesome. It's in really good shape. There is some good rough out there. I think it's pretty tight off the tee. So I think it's a really good course and looking forward to hopefully the wind blowing a little bit and the greens firming up. I think it's going to be a good week.

But this is the first time I've played over here. I came over here, I think, when I was 3 for a vacation with the family, but I don't really remember that much. It was basically my first trip over here.

Q. I'm from Columbus, Ohio, so I got to see you play in two straight qualifiers, and then you did fantastic in the Nationwide Tour event there, and you lost in the playoffs. Are you planning on coming to Ohio to make any stops at the Memorial or Akron?

RICKIE FOWLER: I hope so. I've played well there. I qualified for two pens and made the cut in both Nationwide's I made and lost in a playoff there. So, yes, I definitely see that on the schedule if it works out. I definitely would like to go back.

Q. If necessary ,would you try to qualify for The Open out of Columbus again?

RICKIE FOWLER: If it fits in the schedule like it does normally, yes, I definitely will be there.

Q. Now, before you putt, before when I followed you around, you have this one handed putting stroke kind of on the putting green. Why do you do that as opposed to having both hands on the putter on your practice stroke?

RICKIE FOWLER: Well, that's sometimes for feel. Just kind of feeling the speed. I don't really have a set routine. I kind of go with whatever I feel that day. Some days I won't even take a practice stroke. Some days two handed practice stroke. Some days just that one handed with the right hand practice stroke. I'll do that more on a longer putt to get the feel for the speed. The same way with hitting iron shots or my driver. Some days I will take a practice swing. Some days a half practice swing. Some days step up and hit it.

Q. What clubs did you play last year?

RICKIE FOWLER: I always played Titleist.

Q. Always Titleist?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yes, I played Titleist as a kid. I played that all through Junior Golf, amateur golf, college golf. I haven't changed equipment. I started playing the new irons earlier back in August, but I have been playing the same driver for a year and a half now.

Q. Was Oklahoma State a Titleist school before Peter showed up?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yes, we had a bit of Titleist background there for a little while. It used to be predominantly a Ping school. Now it's a pretty big mixture, I'd say maybe Titleist and Ping.

Q. What are your expectations for the year? How do you set your goals for the year?

RICKIE FOWLER: Kind of like I was saying earlier, just to play the best I can every week. Some weeks you are going to be on. And some weeks you are going to be off. I just try to get the most out of my game for those particular weeks.

Q. Are you someone who sets a specific goal of either win, keep card, finish whatever, reach TOUR Championship?

RICKIE FOWLER: I mean, I'd say the ultimate goal for the year is to keep the card. I know it's tough especially rookie year. Not a high percentage of guys keep their card coming out. I would say that's the overall goal. The first tournament of the year to start out well and to get a good reshuffle number.

Q. What are you going to miss by leaving Oklahoma State early?

RICKIE FOWLER: The thing I missed most is just hanging out with the guys there. They are also my best friends, and I still talk to them quite a bit. I'm trying to help out, you know, when they need it. If they're playing bad, or if there playing well, I tell them to go do their thing. I still talk to them quite a bit and stay up on the scores and watch them. The thing that I miss most is hanging out with the guys and the time on the road traveling with them and the coaches.

Q. Is this such a game where it's kind of silly to hang a "can't miss label" on somebody?

RICKIE FOWLER: Golf is a game, how good your misses are. I mean, you're going to mess up out there, it's just about how well you rebound.

Q. (Inaudible.) You never had this job in terms of playing and scheduling.

RICKIE FOWLER: I don't look at this as a job.

Q. I meant in terms of doing this, having school in the way, vacation?

RICKIE FOWLER: Well, it's nice to not have school in the back of my mind when I'm playing. I know that was sometimes tough at times out there thinking about I got a test in three days, or I got a paper to write.

But it will be tough out here, how much we do play. I'll try to regulate that to where I'm playing a certain amount of weeks in a row at times and having some time off, and then on top of that I will just kind of learning the whole travel system out here, places to stay, and Tom Pernice has helped me out quite a bit with that. He has given me kind of some insights on certain places and better places to stay or places to eat, just kind of getting settled in it each week.

Q. Did he tell you every pressroom will look like this?

RICKIE FOWLER: From what I've seen, each pressroom, they don't look like this yet

Q. What was your major?

RICKIE FOWLER: I was undeclared. I was actually take some economics classes, but for the most part the two years that I was there, just basically generally education.

Q. Are you going to go back and try to finish up you think?

RICKIE FOWLER: We'll see.

Q. Undeclared. (Laughter.)

RICKIE FOWLER: College isn't going anywhere for me right now. If I do decide to, it's going to be there. If I'm playing well out here, I will probably stay out here.

JOHN BUSH: Rickie, thanks for coming by. Play well this week.