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Devil Ball Golf - Golf

Devil Ball Golf

Mon Oct 26, 2009 12:47 pm EDT

Rickie Fowler joins the parade of Next Tiger Woodses

By Jay Busbee

We golf fans aren't ever satisfied, are we? We've got one of the greatest players in history right here in front of us, and all we can think is, who's going to be the next Tiger? From Ty Tryon to Charles Howell III to Sergio Garcia to Adam Scott to Anthony Kim to Rory McIlroy, we've had a parade of Next Tigers lining up to take the king's throne. Same thing has happened in the NBA, with everyone from Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to Anfernee Hardaway and Harold Miner (yes, really) anointed as the "Next Michael Jordan." (The same thing probably would happen in swimming if anybody cared about Michael Phelps more than once every four years.)

Now, fair or not, Rickie Fowler has added his name to that dubious Next-Tiger list. Acing a hole on the final day of one of your first tournaments, and forcing your way into a playoff in that same tourney, will do that for you. (Or, should I say, to you.) As my man Shane Bacon of Dogs That Chase Cars noted, the Golf Channel announcers nearly wet themselves with excitement at Fowler. Which is fine and dandy for the course of a tournament, but it gets kind of disturbing if this kind of fawning becomes standard operating procedure. (See: Vitale, Dick.)

Over at ESPN.com, Jason Sobel makes a very good point as to why we shouldn't go crowning Fowler, or his fellow playoff rookie Jamie Lovemark, as the next great golfer. This is a cruel, capricious game, and a guy who's riding high one day can get shot down the next. (Well, except for you-know-who.) Just take a look at that list of Next Tigers above. Except for McIlroy, who we don't yet know enough about, every single one of them has displayed significant, often career-wrecking, weaknesses in his game.

We don't know enough about Fowler to predict with anything approaching certainty that he'll go either high or low, but for the short term, he'll be just fine. He'll be playing in the next two tournaments with some serious incentive -- earn about $100,000 to put himself in the top 125 on the money list (he currently sits at No. 145) and leapfrog Q School to get onto the PGA Tour next year. That's enough of a fire under him that we'll see exactly how he performs under pressure ... and probably not for the last time, either.

Related: Rickie Fowler, Anthony Kim, Jamie Lovemark, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Ty Tryon, Adam Scott

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31 Comments

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  1. Wayne M
    1. Posted by Wayne M Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

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    I think if he concentrates on being the first Ricky Fowler rather than the next Tiger, he will do well. No need to make predictions, just watch and see what happens.
  2. Jim C
    2. Posted by Jim C Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    Excellent article, Mr. Buzzbee...one of the more sensible ones you've written in a very long time. The only comment I'd add is rather than chase the $$ list he should probably just go to Q school and perhaps avoid what happened to Michelle Wie.
  3. craig
    3. Posted by craig Mon Oct 26, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    Why anoint someone new only to see them fizzle? Why not wait until someone earns the distinction of being the best?
  4. Jeremy
    4. Posted by Jeremy Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Why go to Q school when you can win enough money to skip it. Ricky is enjoying himself and having fun. I have met the kid and I was impressed with his maturity .Lets see how he does against the big stars in the next few years and maybe he will make a name for himself. Right now way to early to say what kind of a pro he will be
  5. Tom Landry
    5. Posted by Tom Landry Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    "The only comment I'd add is rather than chase the $$ list he should probably just go to Q school and perhaps avoid what happened to Michelle Wie. "
    Wow - That has to be the stupidest comment I have ever seen
  6. RC C
    6. Posted by RC C Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    Another product of Murrieta Valley High! Just like Lindsey Davenport in women's tennis. Go Nighthawks!!
  7. $ellus
    7. Posted by $ellus Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Ricky is not the next Tiger Woods. I am not saying he will not be a great golfer but it is really unfair to label up and coming golfers as the next Nicklaus, Woods, Sorenstam or Lopez. Fowler will win many PGA Tour events.
    Good point made in the last paragraph Jay.
  8. Meda
    8. Posted by Meda Mon Oct 26, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    both golfers in the playoff were rookies and already people are saying a star hope you sports writers have niot jinxed him as well oh wait you did not jinx any of the last (the next tigers) ones either they are plain and simply not tiger woods. I will say it again NO ONE in the history of golf has done what tiger has done at the age he is rite now to me that does not make him the best of all time but it does make him the best up till the age of 34 what he does by the end of his career will determin who is the best
  9. Kenneth M
    9. Posted by Kenneth M Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:17 pm EDT

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    Do you know what makes a champion ...''comfort zone ' ...tiger does not have one... and we will see what happens in the future regards ...Fowler and co..
  10. thinker
    10. Posted by thinker Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:19 pm EDT

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    Mr Busbee, for once (this is the only time really) you wrote an article with witch I can agree...Why don't we all agree to wait and watch? because it's so darn hard to do...OK than, lets push the kid into the fire to see if he has the sense to get out...Jay, your last paragraph was probably the best...STUB
  11. ted b
    11. Posted by ted b Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:43 pm EDT

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    This happens in all sports, and is equally unfair in all. Rickie Fowler is an extremely talented young golfer who will likely make a very nice living on the PGA Tour. Guys like Tiger and Jack only happen once a generation or so, and that is exactly what makes them so special. Jim Furyk has had two winless years in a row, yet has made almost $7.5 million in purses in that time.
  12. CB
    12. Posted by CB Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:54 pm EDT

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    GO COWBOYS! Nice to see Ricky's doing so well. His college career was really helpful, I'm sure. Karsten Creek is a MONSTER. If you had to play that course every day, if we COULD play that course every day, we would all be scratch golfers. ;-)
  13. Ron H
    13. Posted by Ron H Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:55 pm EDT

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    What makes Tiger great is the combination of skills he has that few others have. He can win hitting it poorly
    by chipping and putting like crazy, or he can win hitting it pure and putting average. Who knows if Tiger or
    anyone is going to win again. That's the thing about golf announcers that bothers me. They always act like Tiger's
    going to beat Nicklaus' record, they talk like it is guaranteed.
    Your on your own in golf, and if you lose your game there's no one else to pick up the slack like a team sport. You start to miss too many greens and too many putts, and you're history.
  14. pimpdaddybonds
    14. Posted by pimpdaddybonds Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    While everyone is saying they agree with the author of this piece my question is simple. Who says he's gonna be the next anybody? It's the journalist hoping to spark interest in their article. I would bet my next paycheck that Ricky Fowler, or any other player would( even if they thought it) would say "I hope I am the next Tiger Woods". I think they admire him, as I do, but journalist as a whole have to start or end every article with something related to Tiger Woods, thinking it will give his article interest. What would be great to see is actual journalism instead of proposing a question that may or may not be interesting. My admiration for Tiger goes beyond golf...whoa...here's a thought find out why....
  15. Marc J
    15. Posted by Marc J Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:41 pm EDT

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    jay, you guys do this all the time......proclaim someone as the next big thing and, it never happens. leave it alone until Tiger Woods retires. Someone like him comes around once in a generation and to my knowledge there is no one on the horizon that I can see. Unless, you just want something to fill your column.
  16. golfinfool2003
    16. Posted by golfinfool2003 Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:07 pm EDT

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    The next Tiger Woods hmmmm i dont think there is a next Tiger Woods, first it was Phil but while he is a great Champion he is not even close to being as good as Tiger and he knows it, we have had so many nexts in golf including Jacks era but no body came close, so there is no next player to challenge Tigers record in this game just like there was no next Jack to challenge him either, yes there was Lee, Johnny, Tom W, two of them really and more than i can remember, but until Tiger came along Jacks records were safe and they may still be but i really dont think so, i think Tiger will break his majors record but Jacks record for most second place finishes in majors is a life time record i dont think anyone will break, so lets stop this BS battle of the nexts and just enjoy this crazy damn game and the professionals that play it.
  17. Ron H
    17. Posted by Ron H Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    Rickie Fowler's off to a great start that's for sure. What is impressive about his stats is he can hit greens
    and get the ball in the hole. Sergio, Adam Scott, & Charles Howell III can't chip & putt well enough to ever
    dominate. The jury's still out on Anthony Kim & Rory Mcllroy. In my opinion, golf comes down to hitting greens
    and scrambling well if you don't. Based on that, Rickie Fowler looks like a player who can do both pretty well.
    It should be interesting to watch what happens.
  18. Case
    18. Posted by Case Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Time will tell on this one. If he is clutch enough to get his tour card without going thru Q School, that would be impressive. And those that have done that have had great careers so far, so I think it's a great qualifier for success. Woods, Phil, Leonard, and Ryan Moore (am I missing someone?) have done it, so it is very rare. Now I realize that Moore hasn't panned out great so far, but he is also so young, and he does have a win this year, so that is something. I think that Fowler will get his card in the next 3 weeks, and then we get to sit back and see if he makes it or fizzles. Great call on Ty Tryon, a classic young star that has totally fizzled out. Hopefully this does not happen to another.
  19. jillbabe
    19. Posted by jillbabe Mon Oct 26, 2009 9:32 pm EDT

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    Hope he makes it and keeps it going. This is the cruelest sport, one year your on top of the world, two or three years later your trying to get your card back. It's all about you and how you perform!!!!! Just ask Rich Beem, Chris Reily, Tad Fujikawa, Bob May to name a few who know the roller coaster ride that is golf.........
  20. Steve
    20. Posted by Steve Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:51 pm EDT

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    Kudos to Jamie and Rickey for the fabulous golf this past weekend... But let's be real here!!! One nice weekend does not a career make, let alone to be mentioned in the same sentence with Numero Uno... Out on the Tour there are plenty of players with petigrees similar to these young guns, let alone the fine fellows of The Nationwide Tour... Does the name Michael Simms ring a bell??? He of the "Battlefield Promotion" yet couldn't get a spot in the field in Scottsdale... If the fellows at Nike are willing to sign Lovemark, their next deal should be Simms!!! Oh, before I forget, yes The Golf Channel guys need to get their shirts laundered for this weeks coverage... All the Fowler coverage last week without mentioning Lovemark till the 17th hole on Sunday...
  21. raymond w kw
    21. Posted by raymond w kw Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:32 am EDT

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    every one from the mens' tour to Lpga who earns a living at golf wants 2 b a TIGER 2 win 1billion bucks. if they do not hv the desire to b the best but just b a journey man/woman and make a miserable living making $1 million a year ,; next best thing is WALL STREET.
    IN EVERY SPORT--THERE IS ALWAYS THE BEST IN THE HEAP OF RUBBISH-- LIKE A MICHEAL JORDAN OR A M. ALI OR A FEDERA. UNTIL SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND KNOCK THE BEST OFF THE MOUNTAIN TOP. IF IT TAKES 2 OR 20 YEARS; TIGER LIKE BOBBY JONES WILL RIDE INTO THE SUNSET AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
  22. greg h
    22. Posted by greg h Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:06 am EDT

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    Hey Jay,
    Have not been on here for awhile as I've been out truckin! Good piece! Rickie is the real deal and I like what a blogger said earlier about Ricky being the next Ricky, not the next Tiger. This kid has got big game and shows it and always has.......I used to see him hit balls at the Scga in Murrieta with total and unbridled talent.....The 64 he shot in the final round of the CIF State Championship at Santa Maria Country Club had us all talking here in the area. Then to see him have a share of the lead at Torrey Pines at the US Open in the first round only showed that he belonged here! With some great coaching and a bit of guidance from Tom Pernice Jr, he not has talent and has game, but he nows it to! Tiger was much this way to if we remember, the only difference is he won the Las Vegas tournament in 96.....Rickie almost did being in the playoff........Who knows what he'll do, however, money is on him....not to be the next Tiger, but to be one hell of a player who won't be afraid to compete against him.
    Only time will tell!
    Greg
  23. Steven
    23. Posted by Steven Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:37 am EDT

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    Folwer will be every bit as successful as Ryan Moore. Jamie Lovemark will not be as successful.
  24. Cliff F
    24. Posted by Cliff F Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:45 am EDT

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    It is my recommendation that when Tiger reaches about age 36 or 37, start scouring the groups of youth golfers in the 15-16 year old age group because Tiger is going to be "the Tiger" until he reaches about 43-45 years old, so the next great thing will start coming along at that time. Until then, watch all the great golf you can, get excited when a Y.E. Yang pulls off the miraculous victory, and enjoy the ride.
  25. billieboy
    25. Posted by billieboy Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:11 am EDT

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    OMG ! I REALLY HATE THIS " LABELING " BUSINESS LIKE THIS "
    (SIC) ... " the next Tiger Woods ! " .....
    What does this really mean ! ?
    It means that Tiger has won 14 MAJORS, 72 PGA Tournaments , and $ 92 millions dollars !
    Can Rickie Fowler do this ! ? HELL NO ! But he can be a very good excitable pro golfer !
    And he has good looks to boot , too !

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