Erin Hills, Wisconsin: Rickie Fowler refused to be downcast after his latest tilt at a maiden major fell flat at the US Open on Sunday.
The talented 28-year-old world No. 9 is seen as one of the leading lights of the next generation of young golfers in the global game, put in the same bracket as Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.
But while Johnson, Day, Spieth and McIlroy have already broken their major ducks, Fowler’s wait to lift one of golf’s big four championships goes on.
A level-par 72 in the final round at Erin Hills on Sunday was not enough to put Fowler in contention, leaving him tied for fifth with Bill Haas and Xander Schauffele on 10 under, six off the pace.
Fowler though was satisfied though after sealing his seventh top 10 finish in a major.
“I feel like golf-wise I’m playing at the highest level,” Fowler said.
“If you look at the negatives too much, you’re going to be stuck doing that the whole time.
“You have to measure success in different ways, not just by winning, just because that doesn’t happen a whole lot.
“You kind of have to say, ‘Hey, it’s a major.’
“Even though the scores were somewhat lower than a normal US Open, to finish in double digits, under par at a major championship, especially the Open, it was a good week.”
Fowler, meanwhile, said Koepka’s victory — the seventh major in a row won by a first-timer reflected well on the state of golf.
“I think it’s a great thing. You saw the leaderboard this weekend going into today, it’s a lot of new blood, young guys,” Fowler said.
“Kind of some of the younger crew is coming in. I’m not saying the older guys are out by any means, but I think we’re making our presence a little bit more known.”
