- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Valiant American Rickie Fowler said he couldn’t be disappointed after a superb week in which he came within two shots of catching British Open champion Rory McIlroy and a first major title on Sunday.
The popular Californian, who has a penchant for wearing flashy orange outfits, pushed his Florida neighbour and fellow 25-year-old, all the way before ending up in a tie for second with Spaniard Sergio Garcia at Royal Liverpool.
The friends, shared a jovial yet highly competitive rivalry, and are destined to battle again as part of their respective American and European teams when the Ryder Cup takes place at Gleneagles in September.
However, McIlroy now has three majors in the bag, one of only three players to achieve that feat by the age of 25, while Fowler is still looking for his maiden victory at a Grand Slam tournament.
He is also only the third player to shoot four consecutive rounds in the 60’s in a British Open and not go on to win after finishing 15 under over 72 holes.
Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik suffered that fate in 1994 while two-time winner Ernie Els of South Africa is the third player, one year earlier.
American captain Tom Watson revealed earlier in the day, after shooting a final round 68, that Fowler will certainly be in his team for the biennial event when Europe will defend their title.
“Two words to sum it up, Ryder Cup,” Fowler said after his runner-up finish.
“I’m definitely pleased with the way I hung in there, the way I fought it out.
“I made some great par saves and tried to give Rory a little run at the end, but just got on the gas a little too late,” added Fowler who is five months older than McIlroy.
“It’s hard to be disappointed about it, because it was such a great week and with the way I had been playing in the majors, there was some pressure to play well.
“Congratulations to Rory, he played awesome and it was just kind of fun to throw a few shots at him coming in. To see him win was pretty cool.”