Rickie Fowler relishing first home Ryder Cup after wildcard pick
Last Updated: 13/09/16 6:28am
Rickie Fowler is excited by the prospect of making a first Ryder Cup appearance on home soil, after being named as one of Davis Love III’s captain’s picks.
The 28-year-old was the first of Love's initial three wildcard selections, with Matt Kuchar and J.B Holmes also being announced at a press conference on Monday.
Fowler hasn't registered a PGA Tour victory win all year and has only posted two top-10s in his past 12 worldwide starts, finishing 59th at Crooked Stick in last week's BMW Championship.
The world No 9 has featured in the past two USA sides on European soil, failing to win any of his matches at Celtic Manor in 2010 and Gleneagles in 2014, but is now looking forward to trying to help the hosts to victory.
"It's really cool getting to play on home soil," Fowler said. "The Ryder Cup is a whole different animal and I'm looking forward to that opportunity.
"Having played the two overseas, it's going to be pretty amazing getting to play in front of a home crowd and it will be a completely different feeling for sure.
"Hazeltine is a place where I've played well at, so I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to go around the course again."
Fowler missed out on Tour Championship qualification when Holmes holed his par putt at the last on Sunday, with Holmes chosen for a first Ryder Cup appearance since being on the USA's winning side in 2008.
"It's been one of my main goals all year to get on this team, and to get that call from Davis was just a very exciting moment," Holmes said.
"Some of my greatest memories in golf were at Valhalla, so I'm just really excited to get back in the Ryder Cup format and getting out there and playing.
"He (Love) has got a great team around him and it's going to be a lot of fun."
Kuchar will make a fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance, with the Olympic bronze medalist missing out on automatic qualification despite an impressive season on the PGA Tour.
"This is my first team I've required a pick and it's not a pleasant position to be in," Kuchar said. "But when that phone call did come last night, it was a very exciting moment.
"I really am thrilled to be part of this. We have so much respect for him (Love). For me to make this team, I can't wait to make amends and try to bring the cup home.
"I hope that great things come and I hope that this is the year that we can experience the triumph."
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