Las Vegas, Nevada (March 18, 2010)–The Masters is the Holy Grail of the PGA Tour, or all of golf, for that matter. And new Las Vegas Golf Region resident and young PGA Tour star Rickie Fowler could be closing in on playing in The Masters in April. Fowler, who fired a 67 in the first round of the Transitions Championship, is 79th in the World Ranking, but only the Top 50 players in the Official World Ranking up to the week before the tournament qualify. —By Brian Hurlburt
Some good finishes in the near future could earn Fowler, who moved to Las Vegas prior to Las Vegas' PGA Tour event, the 2009 Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, a spot in the prestigious field. And he has been thinking about it. "I am definitely looking to get to Augusta," Fowler told the media following his first round. "That's kind of the main goal right now these next couple of weeks. Obviously, I am trying to win each week but that's the main goal." Fowler plays and practices at the two Las Vegas golf courses operated by the PGA Tour, the resort TPC Las Vegas and the private TPC Summerlin.
The two TPC Las Vegas golf courses are just part of the more than 50 Las Vegas golf courses that dot the southern Nevada desert. TPC Las Vegas is the home to pro golf in Las Vegas and was designed by PGA Tour Design Services with Raymond Floyd serving as the course consultant. All Las Vegas golfers are welcome to play TPC Las Vegas, a one-time home to tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Click now to view the official website of TPC Las Vegas and to reserve your Las Vegas golf tee times for this Las Vegas golf course.
Fowler also said that he has been thinking about The Masters more off the course than while playing during his rounds. "(I think about it) more off the course," said Fowler. "Once I'm out there and teed off, I'm not thinking much about that stuff. I am trying to get to The Masters for the first time. I've never been there and I would really like my first trip to be there to play in the tournament. Obviously that's our main goal the next two weeks, trying to play into the Top-50 in the world, and if not, three weeks to try to get a win. So obviously a win this week or next week, it doesn't matter if I get in the Top-50 in the world. A win and we are in The Masters. (If I) go out and keep playing the way I did today, it should be no problem."