Wednesday cover: Rickie Fowler begins 2015 on the rise in Abu Dhabi

The National's Sport cover for the Wednesday, January 14 issue, featuring Rickie Fowler, heading into the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship off a heralded 2014.

The National's Sport cover for the Wednesday, January 14 issue, featuring Rickie Fowler, coming off a near-unprecedented 2014 season of close calls heading into 2015 with a start at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, starting on Thursday.

John McAuley dives into something of a breakout season for Fowler. While it did not include any individual titles, he performed more consistently excellent at the majors than any other golfer.

“The portents are promising. Despite obvious disappointment in 2014, there was much to admire about Fowler’s game: measured solely in the majors, his consistency outstripped even that of his illustrious opponent. Or, for that matter, everyone else.

“Of the 13 players to make the cut at every major last season, Fowler top scored with a cumulative 32-under par to take home what has become known as the Summative Slam.”

And McAuley also looks at Fowler’s friendly rivalry with his contemporary Rory McIlroy:

“It bodes well for this season. Should he build on last year, Fowler will again challenge McIlroy at the summit, perhaps even get the better of him a few times.”

“He has beaten me plenty of times, too, so I think we’ll continue to go back and forth over the years,” Fowler tells McAuley.

“I’m looking forward to that battle. It would be nice to start my season in Abu Dhabi by getting the better of him over the National Course.”

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