Rickie Fowler focusing on mental side of Masters game

As Rickie Fowler took his turn in the interview room on Monday afternoon at Augusta National Golf Club, less than a dozen reporters joined him.

“Everybody showed up,” he said with a wry grin as he took his seat. “I know who my friends are.”

Getting a slot in direct competition with Tiger Woods’ first practice round since 2015 makes for an intimate chat. Being on the course with Tiger on late Sunday afternoon — with a chance to reverse his pattern of frustratingly close finishes in golf’s biggest events — would certainly make him the topic of conversation.

“In a way, if there was one guy growing up that you could have a chance, it was playing against Tiger or being in the group with him or having a chance to beat him,” he said.

“So I feel like I’m ready for that. Maybe back in 2012, 2013 that would have been a bit tough to accomplish, but … I’m in a good spot.”

Fowler has three top-12 finishes at the Masters Tournament in the past four years, buoyed by some great rounds and disheartened by Sundays gone awry in 2014 and 2017.

This go-round, mental preparation has taken center stage.

“I know that I can hit every shot that I need to on this golf course,” Fowler said. “I can putt well, and that’s obviously needed here. So the big thing is everything that happens prior to actually pulling the trigger. I need to make sure I’m in the right frame of mind and trusting what we’re trying to do and not second-guessing anything.”

He receives an additional boost of motivation in the form of fist bumps and bro hugs around the 18th green after victories by his cadre of friends — Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, and the list goes on.

“It’s about time we have a real shot,” he said, later adding, “To be there to see some friends win, whether it’s Bubba’s playoff on 10, seeing Sergio get it done in the playoff coming up 18, I would love to have my chance at it.”

Masters Record