Fowler dodges McIlroy in UAE
Rickie Fowler will miss teeing off with his across-the-pond rival Rory McIlroy at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Champions this week.
Fowler – the defending champion – hopes to kick off 2017 with a positive result at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, but admittedly is a touch blue about friend and rival McIlroy missing out due to a rib injury.
"I love playing against him," the American told europeantour.com.
"We've had a lot of good battles and good times together. Hopefully he's not out long and able to get back and he's obviously playing well. He played well last week.
"Does that make me look at the tournament any differently? No. You know, it's one less top player in the world I'm going to have to beat but the field here is one of the best fields on the European Tour and still has a lot of the top players in the world, three of the Major champions from last year are here.
"It's not going to be any easier to win."
Fowler also revealed that his focus for 2017 is the majors. The world number 14 has top five finishes in each of them, but is yet to really be in contention 0n Sunday afternoon.
"The last couple of years, the majors have been kind of the number one point to look at, especially after 2015, having the good finishes there,"
"So the majors, for me, that's probably the number one goal. Winning is what I want to do, win tournaments around the world but the majors are number one."
Latest
-
NewsCollin Morikawa to reassess his goals after winning The Open at first attempt
The 24-year-old American has already won two majors.
-
NewsThe Open day four: Halfway to a career grand slam two years after turning pro
Collin Morikawa has added the Open to the US PGA, both of them won on tournament debut.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa eager to savour taste of success after debut Open triumph
The American became only the second person after Tiger Woods to win the Open and US PGA before the age of 25.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa admits magnitude of historic Open victory is ‘hard to take in’
The 24-year-old is the first player to win two different majors at their first attempt.
-
NewsThe Open day four: Collin Morikawa holds off the challenge of Jordan Spieth
The American held his nerve to create history in the 149th Open at a sun-drenched Royal St George’s.
-
NewsJordan Spieth rues a couple of ‘dumb mistakes’ which cost him a shot at title
The 2017 Open champion finished runner-up to Collin Morikawa.
-
News5 things you may not know about Open winner Collin Morikawa
The American came close to equalling one of Tiger Woods’ records.
-
NewsAmerican Collin Morikawa seals thrilling two-shot victory on Open debut
The 2020 US PGA champion held his nerve superbly on the closing stretch to become the first player to win two different majors at their first attempt.
-
NewsRory McIlroy hopes Olympics will get his game back in shape amid Covid-19 fears
The Northern Irishman is not looking forward to his trip to Japan because of stringent protocols enforced to fight the spread of the virus.
-
NewsCollin Morikawa storms into three-shot lead as Louis Oosthuizen loses ground
Three straight birdies from the seventh put the American in the driving seat.