Fresh from victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Sunday, American Rickie Fowler will be targeting his fifth title in eight months at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open outside San Diego.
Winning four times in his last 18 starts worldwide has given the 27-year-old Californian a massive confidence boost, though he was reluctant to say that he now expects to finish atop the leaderboard whenever he tees it up at a tournament.
Fowler beat a competitive field in Abu Dhabi to clinch the Falcon trophy one shot ahead of Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, with world No 3 Rory McIlroy and world No 6 Henrik Stenson a shot further back. World No 1 Jordan Spieth, making his Abu Dhabi debut, completed the top five.
“I wouldn’t say expecting (to win), but it’s having that belief and that confidence knowing that I can go out and get the job done,” world No 4 Fowler said.
“And having done so, winning four times in the last eight months or so, the confidence and that belief has only continued to grow. It’s a fun time for me. It’s a great time for golf.
“There’s a lot of guys playing well and I’m just proud to be a part of that and proud to be a part of the mix of those top guys right now and I want to continue to do that.”
COMMENT: Abu Dhabi champion Rickie Fowler gets closer to joining the cool kids in a 'Big Four'
Fowler is snapping at the heels of Spieth, world No 2 Jason Day and McIlroy, though he accepts he needs to win his first major title if he is to transform the so-called ‘Big Three’ into a ‘Big Four’.
“To solidify being the four of us, winning a major would definitely help that,” said Fowler, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour.
“But for now, the four of us and plenty of other guys right behind us and down the line, everyone’s playing some pretty incredible golf.
“And when we play together, I feel like it kind of pushes each other to elevate our games to the next level. I obviously have my own goals, but when those guys are playing well ... we’re all motivating each other to become better players.”
Fowler is one of five players ranked in the world’s top 10 headlining a strong field at Torrey Pines, the others being Australian Day, England’s Justin Rose (No 7) and Americans Dustin Johnson (No 8) and Patrick Reed (No 10).
Day is the defending champion, having triumphed last year in a four-way playoff with Americans JB Holmes, Harris English and 2014 winner Scott Stallings, but his tournament preparations have been hampered by flu-like symptoms.
On Wednesday, the ailing Day withdrew from the pro-am competition at Torrey Pines, though PGA Tour officials said they still expect Day to tee off in the opening round as planned.
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
