Rickie targets Ryder cup bow

Fowler: chasing Celtic Manor debut

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Rickie Fowler admits that qualifying for October's Ryder Cup is now one of his "main goals" for the remainder of the season.

The 21-year-old only turned professional at the start of the season, but has enjoyed a hugely encouraging first season in the paid ranks.

The youngster already finds himself in the world's top-40 and will next week play his first-ever World Golf Championships event at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.

Fowler has managed three runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour this year, the latest of which came at the start of June in the Memorial Tournament won by Justin Rose, which have seen him to 15th place in the FedEx Cup standings.

But perhaps more importantly, he also finds himself in 15th place in the American Ryder Cup standings and with a very realistic chance of qualifying for Corey Pavin's team.

New record

If he does produce the goods in the coming weeks Fowler could become the first player since Tiger Woods to go straight from Walker Cup to Ryder Cup - and in terms of time between one and the other, he would set a new record.

Fowler played in his second Walker Cup match at Merion last September and won four points out of four as the Americans trounced Britain and Ireland - giving him an overall total of seven points from eight in the match.

He admits the Ryder Cup was a long way from his mind when he first turned pro, but is now hopeful of featuring at Celtic Manor.

"When I first turned professional I wasn't thinking Ryder Cup," Fowler explained.

"I was focused on getting my card. I played a few autumn events and almost made enough, but had to go to the third stage of Q-school (qualifying).

"Once I got through that and started getting some good finishes this season I knew it was a Ryder Cup year and people started asking questions.

"Now it's one of my main goals. It can't be a long list of players who have gone straight from one to the other, but for the moment I'm just enjoying playing against the best players in the world."

Open enjoyment

Fowler advanced his claims of qualifying further at the recent Open Championship at St Andrews when, after a forgettable first round of 79, he climbed his way through the field to finish 14th after shooting 67,71 and 67 in his last three rounds.

That was even better than runaway winner Louis Oosthuizen managed over the course of his final three rounds and the American rookie admits he really enjoyed the experience in what was his first Open.

"That was a lot of fun," he added. "I love playing links golf. I grew up on a local driving range back home and basically just learned golf by hitting shots.

"High and low, left and right - that's basically links golf. You can use the course to your advantage when you can keep the ball down and move it both ways."