After a slow start to his rookie season, Rickie Fowler found his game last week at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Competing in only his 11th PGA Tour event, Rickie was in contention for the second time coming down the stretch. However, an unfortunate mistake on the 17th hole on Sunday forced him to settle with a T5 finish. Still, not too shabby. It was his third top-10 finish since he turned pro last fall.

His takeaway from the experience?

“Just knowing that I can compete out here, a little more confidence in that. I played well for a couple events in the Fall Series last year at Vegas and Fry’s in Scottsdale. This just kind of reminds me that I can go out and win if I put myself in position,” the 21-year-old said.

He’ll get his shot this week at the Northern Trust Open. Watch out!

[Photo by Donald Mirelle/Getty Images]

Like the pink shades of red Rickie Fowler has been sporting on the PGA Tour recently? Well, here’s your chance to see more (and buy some)!

The PGA Merchandise Show takes place in Orlando this week from Wednesday to Friday, and PUMA Golf will be showing off our latest footwear, apparel and accessories. We’ll be showing the company’s in-store launch of the Spring 2010 lines and sell-in for Fall/Winter 2010.

We’ll be exhibiting in a meeting room just off the showroom floor. So, come take a peek and introduce yourself! Look forward to seeing you there.

[Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images]

For everyone who is looking to upgrade their look on the links this year, here’s a preview of our new line — featuring Rickie Fowler. He gets a little overly excited with his swing at one point. Good thing the windows weren’t real!

Rickie will also be showing off the gear at the Sony Open in Hawaii this week. Be sure to tune in to the coverage and check out the cool and fashionable styles!

We had our first Q&A interview with Rickie Fowler in November. Since then, he passed PGA Tour Q-school to secure his 2010 card. The rising star makes his rookie debut at the Sony Open in Hawaii next week. We caught up with him via phone from California on Friday. Check out what’s new with him and his thoughts on the season…

PUMA Golf: Congrats on earning your Tour card. Does anything stand out to you from Q-school [in December]?

Rickie Fowler: I played fairly steady. It was tough conditions, so I just tried to hold it together. Other than that, I played pretty solid.

PG: What have you been up to in California?

RF: Just hanging out for a couple of days and working on my game. I leave for Hawaii tomorrow.

PG: What are you looking forward to in Hawaii?

RF: Getting to spend some time over there. I haven’t been there since I was 2. It will be somewhat of an extended vacation. I’m excited to get the 2010 season going.

PG: Do you have your schedule for the season planned yet?

RF: I’m starting next week with the Sony Open. Then I’m playing in the Bob Hope Classic. From there, I’m going down to the San Diego. I’m still waiting on possibly getting a spot in LA at the Northern Trust Open. Then I’m going to take a week off — which is the week of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. After that, I’m playing in Mexico at the Mayakoba Classic. Hopefully I’ll get to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. So, that’s the plan for the next two months.

PG: What did you do for the holidays?

RF: I hung out with the family for Christmas in Cali. Then I went to Jupiter, FL, to hang out with my girlfriend’s family for a few days and had a low-key New Year’s.  I’ve really just been practicing quite a bit to get my game ready.

PG: What’s your favorite place to travel and why?

RF: So far, Australia. I’ve played there twice. I like the courses. People are really nice over there. I’ve been to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney and those cities have a bit of a California feel weather-wise and it’s laid back. I’ve just had great experiences and look forward to going back. My second favorite places are Ireland and Scotland because that’s my favorite type of golf — links style. I like to hit a lot of different shots and play my way around the golf course — not just hit one shot all day. You get a good amount of wind there and it forces you to play the golf course how it’s meant to be played.

PG: If you weren’t playing golf, what would you be doing?

RF: Probably racing and riding dirt bikes.

PG: You have a passion for cars. What are you driving these days?

RF: Yeah, I got a Nissan Skyline GTR recently. It’s good for what I want to do because it’s a fast car that handles well and fun. I put a center pipe and exhaust on. The car is black, but the wheels and bottom were gray, so I had them blacked out. I’m also putting some orange accents on it.

PG: What’s the best present you got for Christmas?

RF: My girlfriend gave me a new tennis racket. The car was a birthday and Christmas present for myself. I also got a PlayStation 3 for my house in Vegas when I’m bored there.

PG: Who do you usually travel with?

RF: My mom is coming with me to Hawaii. Sometimes I’ll go alone and then my parents will meet me. They like to be at the tournaments, especially since it will be my first year out. My girlfriend is in school, but she’ll come as much as she can.

PG: What are you looking forward to the most this year?

RF: Just getting to play in a bunch of PGA Tour events. It’s pretty cool to have status and go out and play.

PG: Do you have a favorite PUMA style right now?

RF: I’m just getting used to the new gear. I still like all my orange and I’ll probably wear orange pants every Sunday. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to wear in Hawaii. I have some new shoes, cool pants, a whole new shirt line. I’m looking forward to showing it off in Hawaii. I’ll be wearing some different colors than people are used to seeing — like shades of blue and red mainly.

PG: Do you like Twitter and do you do your own updates?

RF: Yeah, I think it’s a great way for athletes, celebrities, or just anyone to interact with people. As an athlete, it’s good for getting fans more involved and let people get to know me a little better. I do my own tweeting. My management company posts all the articles written about me on my Facebook and it links to my Twitter account, which is why sometimes it looks like it’s not me. Some people have called me out, saying it’s not really me, but it is.

Thanks for your time, Rickie, and best of luck next week!

While You-Know-Who is still missing in action, there is actual real golf being played this week. The PGA Tour opens the year with the SBS Championship on Thursday. The “winners-only” field of 28 players stars the likes of all four 2009 majors champions and multiple tournament winners, such as Brian Gay, Zach Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy, Kenny Perry, Steve Stricker and Y.E. Yang.

Who’s your favorite to win?

We’re just looking forward to four days of watching some great play (on the links) and beautiful views of the Maui beaches!

[Photo via]

In this episode, Rickie gives us a tour of his new condo in Vegas, introduces us to more members of his family, goes to a motocross event and takes us behind the scenes at a photo shoot for Golf Magazine at a PUMA store. Oh, he also apparently likes the salad bar at Sizzler’s.

Anna Nordqvist, currently the world’s number seven ranked golfer, capped off a spectacular 2009 with a great showing at the Dubai Ladies Masters. She shot a total 11-under to finish T4.

On Saturday she was also awarded the Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year for 2009 at the Ladies European Tour’s end of year awards ceremony held at the Emirates Golf Club, the venue for the Dubai Ladies Masters.

Anna won twice on the LPGA Tour in 2009, including a major — the McDonald’s LPGA Championship — in her fifth start as a professional. Her second victory came at the LPGA’s season-ending Tour Championship. She was also a key member of the European Solheim Cup Team.

For her eighth LPGA rookie blog, she writes about her travels to Asia and recent tournament experiences. Here’s an excerpt:

Texas was quite a special event as well. It was such a long week with all the delays and I am not really used to getting Friday and Saturday off during the week. It was nice to get some time to rest and relax. I used the time wisely and decided to get a haircut Saturday afternoon. Normally, I like to have everything planned out, but this was kind of an impulsive decision. Trey Gillian, working at the Urban Retreat salon in Houston, Texas, came down to help us get ready for the Rolex Award Ceremony earlier during the week, so I decided to visit the salon during the rain delays. Trey did an amazing job, and I am very pleased with the result! I must admit I was a little bit scared once he cut my bangs and I realized there was no turning back. (I’ve never had bangs in my whole life.) Very stylish and something new!

Go HERE to read more.

Congrats on a fantastic year, Anna! We look forward to seeing more great things from you in 2010.

[Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images Europe]

While everyone (including us) has been fixated with the You Know Who scandal, some PUMA golfers have been making some noise on the course this week.

*Geoff Ogilvy shot four-under 66 in the second round of the PGA Championship Australia. He’s currently T3 and only one shot off the lead.

*Anna Nordqvist, who has had a spectacular year, is 11-under and in second place after two rounds at the Omega Dubai Masters. She also stands to win the Ladies European Tour’s Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year Award on Saturday.

*Rickie Fowler is making his debut as the youngest player in history to play at the 21st edition of the Shark Shootout hosted by Greg Norman. He’s paired with PGA Tour veteran Chris DiMarco. In Friday’s format of modified alternate shot, they shot three-under, good enough for T6 in the 12-team field.

You can catch the telecast of the Shark Shootout on NBC — Saturday 4-6PM EST and Sunday 3-6PM EST.

Best of luck to all this weekend and here’s hoping for strong finishes!

[Photos by (L to R) Bradley Kanaris, David Cannon, Doug Benc/Getty Images]

When it came down to pass the final test, Rickie Fowler easily made the grade. He shot scores of 74-68-66-73-70-70 for a six-day total of 11-under to finish in 15th place at PGA Tour Q-school and secure his 2010 Tour card.

Here’s what the chill, poised 20-year-old said afterward:

I don’t think it was as bad for me as some of the other guys out here. Some of the guys had a lot more on the line than I did. The way I’ve been playing, I had a lot of confidence coming into the week, but it was still tough. It was a great experience. I had a chance to get into the top 125 but didn’t play well at Disney, so Q-School was the path for me the whole way and I was lucky enough to play well. I kept the ball in front of me all week. I think I hit 15 greens today and that definitely helped keep the stress off. It will be nice to have status next year and hopefully play well.

Does anything ever get under his skin?? Congratulations, Rickie! Well done. We can’t wait to continue watching your impressive play!

[Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images]