Rickie Fowler showed why he is being tipped as one of the main contenders for the Claret Jug with an excellent start at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
The American, who won this event at Gullane Links two years ago, shot a superb five under par 67 to finish well ahead of his playing partners Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson, last year’s Open champion.
Stenson will be able to take some solace from fighting back from a triple bogey seven start to finish level par but McIlroy continues to look tormented by his own struggles.
Fresh from missing the cut at the Irish Open last weekend, McIlroy was four over par after four holes and eventually signed for a 74 to leave him with plenty of catching up to do.
The Northern Irishman refused to conduct any interviews after his latest disappointing day at the office and headed straight to the range for some extra practice.
Fowler, by contrast, lapped up every minute of his round at Dundonald Links and relishes the different challenge presented by links courses in comparison to the target golf that is the weekly norm on the PGA Tour.
He said: “It’s a lot of fun to be back here at the Scottish Open. It was unfortunate I had to miss it last year with the schedule and the Olympics being part of the summer. That just didn’t allow me to be over here the week before the Open.
“I’m excited to be back and, having won here in 2015 at Gullane, I think it’s a great way to get ready for the Open as well as getting to play somewhere I know I can play well.
“I love playing links golf but it doesn’t make it any easier.
“I still need to go out and play well but I love this two-week trip. We’re off to a good start and we’ll keep rolling.”
In an ominous sign for the rest of the field at Dundonald, Fowler said he is feeling as confident with his game as he was in 2015 when he claimed The Players Championship, the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Scottish Open.
The 28-year-old has already picked up one victory this year – the Honda Classic in February – and his opening 67 at Dundonald has propelled him into the perfect position for a second Scottish Open success.
The in-form Fowler was in the mix at the Masters and the US Open but paid the price for poor final rounds on both occasions.
But the American’s confidence remains undiminished ahead of Royal Birkdale.
He said: “It’s been a good year so far, very consistent.
“There have been a few missed cuts but that’s going to be happen. It can’t be perfect.
“I won at the Honda, continued to play well and was in contention at the first two majors.
“The Sundays weren’t what I wanted but the US Open was definitely better than the Sunday at Augusta.
“I’m looking forward to getting myself in contention this week and being ready to go next week at the Open at Birkdale.”