Travelers Championship: First Up, Rickie Fowler

The Travlers Championship has arrived at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. First in the press tent was Rickie Fowler, 20, who had the last two weeks off after failing to qualify for the U.S. Open. In 16 events this year, the highly-touted phenom has made 10 cuts amassing $1,983,941 good for 12th in Fed Ex Cup points.

This is his second trip to River Highlands. In 2009 he carded 72-73 and missed the cut in one of three PGA Tour events he played that year.

"It's a pretty fun course. You need to hit fairways," Fowler said of the par-70 6,841-yard Bobby Weed redesign. "I'm not going to be bombing it anywhere."

Which, he said, does not bother him.

"I'm good with that I'm not a long hitter. I'm above average. It's a big thing keeping it in the fairway."

That doesn't mean he'll be playing it safe on the drivable par-4, 15th that is 296 yards from the back tees.

You won't see my lay up," Fowler said. "I think it's a hole you go for and try to make a number."

Asked to name his favorite courses, the California native listed Pebble Beach and Torrey Pines South, no surprise, and then went overseas for this third choice, Royal County Down Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

"It's not like any other course," he said recounting the layout he played in the 2007 Walker Cup. "It's one of those courses where you step up on each hole and it's not like anywhere else."