Keegan Bradley = 4 wins (1 major), ranked 152nd in the world, career earnings of $26 million.
Rickie Fowler = 5 wins (The Players Championship), ranked 65th in the world, career earnings of $39 million.

I don't know about anyone else, and no disrespect to Keegan, but I'd take Fowler's career over Keegan's in a heartbeat, despite the lack of a major tournament win.

Some of the old timers (Faldo) are probably just chippy because they weren't competing for nowhere near the purses the players today play for. And it's understandable, the instant-millionaire purses have definitely put a ceiling on some players' motivation and focus.

But had Faldo been competing for the amount of money back in his prime that these guys today are playing for, who's to say that his career wouldn't be that much different than Rickie's?

CH3 has made quite a nice life for himself by simply making cuts and keeping his card, $40 million in career earnings. Three wins, best finish in a major was T10 at Augusta over 18 years ago.

Perspective is never a bad thing.


    PA-PLAYA Perspective is never a bad thing.

    It's quite possible he's thinking the multiple majors ship has sailed, so may as well set himself up off the course.
    Sergio was the same deal. Play for the sake of playing and whatever happens, happens.
    Fowler is not thrilled of course, but I don't see him tossing clubs yet.

      PA-PLAYA Keegan Bradley
      Rickie Fowler

      If you had Jordan's name in there it would have fit my reply also.....marriage. They all were on top of their games, and then along came...........marriage. It's happened to a lot of them, it will happen to more of them. Yes, they were most likely living together long before the weddings, but we know that is a different bird.
      They all rebound, it just takes time. Keegan was total crap for a couple years, then all of a sudden he was getting high finishes again. Look at Jordan right now. Rickie will come around, but he's still about a year away from the pattern of the others. There will be others this will happen to.....keep an eye on Justin, and with his temperament, it could well ruin his marriage also, when it happens after his wedding. jmo

        Spuzz

        I agree.

        The pandemic has certainly not helped. I'm guessing Rickie isn't the type to make excuses, but 2020 is an anomaly in that respect for a lot of pro athletes. Golf is different obviously in that it requires an incredible amount of focus. Hard to focus with all of the adjustments and modifications that had to be implemented due to the circumstances.

        I don't think it necessarily detracts from those who overcame these things and won, but it certainly has to be figured in with those who have struggled over the past year. I think many of us will appreciate this especially with March Madness coming up in a few weeks. These are unprecedented times in every way almost.

        I would be surprised to see Fowler throwing a club. Then again, maybe a little kick in his own ass might be what he needs to get his mojo back. He's just really never been the type to reveal that degree of frustration like a lot of other golfers.


        Par4QC

        Yeah definitely. And especially when there are children/family things suddenly competing for time and attention. Good point.

        johnnydoom lol, I just now got an email from Cobra!! Made me look. The cavity-back Tours are 'only' $1399 in the copper....they all come in the copper now. Only 100 higher than non copper. Jump!! 😁

        Who knows. Only Rickie. It depends on how the PGA Tour golfer views his role/job.

        Bruce Lietzke, when asked why he didn't play in certain Majors, always said that he was out as a
        professional golfer to make a living for his family. Period. No grand delusions. He won enough with a simple swing.

          Eguller But with Rickie missing cuts, there is no making a living from playing. If it were not for the sponsors, how many of these 'kids' would still be around? (and I realize they make enough off 1 win to sustain life for many, many years)

            Par4QC But with Rickie missing cuts, there is no making a living from playing.

            How true. But, looks like for the vast majority, the real $$$ is off the course. Like Arnie.

            pellmell Could Fowler's clubs, specifically his butter knifes, explain his deficient performance

            YES!!!!

            A couple weeks ago before any of the Faldo shit, I was thinking about Fowler because some friends were buying Cobra stuff. I looked into his stats and saw his SG off the tee and around the green were great but his iron play was awful. FIRST thing I said to myself was " stop playing those pretty looking blades". More than half the tour is either using a split set of some kind or a players cavity back like the Ping i210. How can he be that dumb... the worst part of your game, the hardest clubs made to hit...

              I know we said "β€œaim small miss small" in my Nike blade thread but it’s not working for everyone.

              Does anyone here (or anywhere) really give a flying squirrel shit what Faldo says? I doubt Fowler does.

                Obviously I don't see the ads you guys do so have no idea if it's excessive. Not sure how it could be so, it can't take long to film and ad surely? What little of RF I have seen (PGA Tour coverage is notorious for only showing players at the top of the leaderboard, even in Majors) he doesn't look comfortable on the course. Maybe working on (and through) swing changes to make himself more competitive?

                I don't know for sure but if so, considering Faldo went through a couple of iterations of that process that led him to several Major wins, I'd expect him to be more ... understanding. Also, given his life experience of unfriendly media - he once thanked them "from the heart of my bottom" while collecting the Claret Jug ... poacher turned gamekeeper for me.

                Maybe he's being prompted to be a bit more "controversial" (golf commentary/punditry is notoriously bland); let's see if he targets more than just Fowler in the coming months.