Notion that Rickie Fowler is the most overrated golfer on the PGA Tour is nonsense

America's Rickie Fowler topped a poll of the most overrated golfers on the PGA Tour in May – what a load of nonsense. 

 

In the same week as that insulting poll he went on to beat Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner in a play-off to claim the Players Championship at Sawgrass in the most incredible style.

 

Rickie proved himself again on Monday by winning the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston by a single stroke. He pursued Sweden’s Henrik Stenson all the way and was magnificent down the stretch. It was great golf to watch.

 

Henrik was a little bit unlucky with his tee shot on the 16th, which caught a gust of wind and came up short in the water. But Rickie was amazing and deserved his victory. I love the way he plays, he is so talented. In fact, he is a breath of fresh air.

 

Rickie is in the era of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day and, while it will undoubtedly be tough, he is capable of joining those three at the top of the sport. It will be a fantastic spectacle over the next 10 years to determine who is the best.

 

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy holds all the aces, he just has to do it. Spieth has the courage of a lion and Day is an awesome talent, while the little fighter in the background is Fowler.

 

Stenson may not have been able to seal victory, as has happened all year really, but he is producing some great stuff and playing well enough for a repeat of 2013 when he was crowned FedEx Cup champion. Spieth regained the world No1 spot from McIlroy despite missing the cut for the second tournament in succession. That run of form is nothing for him to be overly concerned about. 

 

He has had a huge season and won two Majors and could quite easily have forced a play-off against Zach Johnson at the Open Championship at St Andrews in July, which would have seen him head to the PGA with a chance of winning all four this year.

 

That would have been a big disappointment and difficult for him to pick himself up from and push on just as strong. The FedEx Cup is important with a huge amount of money on offer for the winner, but after his start to season he would have wanted those four Majors.

 

Rory had a great last round but did not quite settle in, although his showing in Massachusetts will have done him the world of good as he continues to get back into the swing of things following his ankle injury.

 

England’s Lee Slattery, meanwhile, deserves all the plaudits heading his way after winning the Russian Open on Sunday. He is a lovely kid and a great player. He hadn’t won a tournament since 2011 and it’s a life-changing win.

 

I would also like to mention the wonderful week I had at the Scottish Senior Open at Archerfield recently. My son Daniel won the long-driving competition and the prize was an hour-long lesson at the Nike Performance Centre there.

 

So it’s a big thank you to European Tour coach Gary Nicol and PGA professional Ross Leeds.