Rickie Fowler returns to Japan with 'more self-belief'

Rickie Fowler arrived in Japan this week with a vastly different perspective on the golf course than 12 months ago.

He was 160th in the Official World Golf Ranking ahead of the 2022 Zozo Championship, mired in a multi-year slump that had seen him plummet as low as 185 -- well out of range to qualify for marquee events. However, Fowler had retooled his swing -- again -- and had seen signs of progress with a tie for sixth at the Fortinet Championship to begin the 2022-23 season.

After missing the cut in Las Vegas, he traveled to Japan and held the lead after 36 and 54 holes. A 70 on Sunday left Fowler a shot behind winner Keegan Bradley, but the career rebound was on.

He would go on to make 12 consecutive cuts, posting eight top-20s in the process. Fowler was in contention before fading on Sunday at the U.S. Open and then snapped a three-year winless drought at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Solid form throughout the spring and summer propelled Fowler to the Tour Championship and a spot on the United States Ryder Cup team.

Now he's back for a third Zozo Championship in Japan, a country where he enjoys a massive fan base. His maternal grandfather is also Japanese.

"I have a lot more self-belief and confidence and momentum coming into -- or at the end of last year, August, you know, been about two, three years of tough times on the golf course. So, to have some good finishes, one at Napa and then here at Zozo, those were two big weeks for me to kind of hit the reset or restart," Fowler said Tuesday.

"Zozo was a big part of why I had success this year. That was one that kind of helped me build some confidence and momentum going into what was a little bit of an offseason and really helped propel me to play some good golf this year. Coming off of that, obviously know that I can play well here and looking forward to continue that and hopefully do one better than last year."

There will no doubt be massive fan bases following Fowler's group for the first two days, if only because he is paired with 2021 winner and Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama. Bradley is the third player in the group.

"I feel like I have a great following here in Japan and usually have a handful of fans that are out there supporting me, but it's going to be a completely different level playing with Hideki," Fowler said. "Hideki's a rock star over here and I'm looking forward to it. He's someone I admire as a person, as a player, enjoy being around him as well as his caddie.

"It will be an exciting atmosphere, for sure, for both myself and Keegan to see the show of Hideki in Japan."

After the Zozo, Fowler will play in Tiger Wood's Hero World Challenge before teaming with Lexi Thompson in the Grant Thornton Invitational in December. But he's already looking ahead to 2024, where he has qualified for elevated events and has an eye on returning to the Olympics in Paris.

"I would say the Olympics would be similar to what my goal of the Ryder Cup was last year," he said. " I have a lot of work to do to make the Olympic team, but I would -- if I were to do that, I would have accomplished a lot of things that I want to and there would be a lot of good golf."