The Open 2023 - Will Rickie Fowler have his major moment? - ESPN

HOYLAKE, England — Nine years ago, the resplendent orange Rickie Fowler wore against the backdrop of Hoylake's cement-colored palate seemed like it glowed a little brighter. At the 2014 Open Championship, Fowler was still in his mid 20s, wearing a flat-billed, white and orange Puma hat with his website stitched on, sporting a golf swing that was far flatter, and a putter head that was much smaller.

Five years into his professional career, at the time, it felt like Fowler was starting to make real progress toward what at one point felt inevitable, guaranteed even: Winning. A lot.

He had just notched a top-five finish at the Masters that year and added a second-place finish in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. For a player who had only one PGA Tour win but countless attention, sponsorship deals and hype to his name, these performances at the majors felt overdue. The early part of 2014 hinted at Fowler being close, but even in those tournaments prior to The Open, he had been eight and six shots respectively behind the eventual winner.

It wasn't until Hoylake that year that it felt like Fowler had a shot. Going into Sunday nearly 10 years ago, Fowler was six shots back from Rory McIlroy, who led the field. Fowler needed birdies and no bogeys. He made five of the former and none of the latter and got as close as three shots back after birdieing the 15th hole. Fowler played the course Sunday four shots better than McIlroy, but it wasn't enough.

At the time, Fowler viewed his runner-up as a harbinger.

«It feels like I should be here,» Fowler said after the final round in 2014. «There's plenty more to come.»

Later that year, however, Fowler would lose to McIlroy again by two strokes, this time at the PGA Championship. It was another