Rickie Fowler played in style on his way to a second place finish at the Waste Management Open. The 21-year-old fell just one shot short of a playoff against fellow Oklahoma State Cowboy Hunter Mahan.

In only nine starts on the PGA Tour, he’s been in a playoff and had a putt to go into a playoff — not too shabby. He has two top-5 finishes in his past four tournaments. Expect that first W to come in just a matter of time. He’s definitely proved he’s the real deal.

Rickie jumps to 13th place in the FedEx Cup standings and 14th on the official money list.

[Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images]

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!

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]

After fourteen holes in the third round of the final stage of the PGA Tour Q-school, Rickie Fowler was 10-under. He jumped on the birdie train quickly with six on the front nine to shoot 30. On the back, he continued his hot streak, carding two birdies, an eagle and a par, and took a one-stroke lead at one point. But unfortunately, as these things happen sometimes, he made some costly mistakes down the stretch and played the last four holes four-over. Still, a great round of 6-under 66.

At the halfway mark of the grueling six rounds of Q-school, Rickie is T13 with a three-day total of 8-under, four strokes behind the leaders. He’s in excellent position to secure his 2010 Tour card — the top-25 finishers receive full exempt status for next year. Rickie’s play is especially impressive given he’s a first timer.

As you may remember, Rickie almost dodged even going to Q-school by finishing in the top-125 on the 2009 PGA Tour money list. Playing in his first PGA Tour event as a professional at the JT Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, he placed T7. The following week he almost won, narrowly losing in a three-way playoff. At the end of the season, he was ranked 135th on the money list, allowing him to bypass the first and second stages of Q-school.

Most important this week, he’s having fun and maintains a relaxed and composed attitude. Yesterday he enthusiastically professed, “Two months ago, I had nothing. Now I know it will be easier for me to get starts next year and I have a place to play. In a way, this is kind of a stress-free week for me.”

Seriously! Most pros would utter just the opposite. And with Rickie’s chill, fearless temperament, look for him to take his play up another notch in the final three rounds. Go, Rickie!

[Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]

PUMA athlete Rickie Fowler is showing he can play with the big boys. He fired a stellar 7-under 64 in the second round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open for a two-day total 11-under. This is his first PGA Tour event as a professional.

The talented 20-year-old got off to a fast start, racking up 5 birdies and an eagle on his first nine. After his round he told the Golf Channel:

I got out to a little better start on the back nine, my first nine, and turned at 30, which helped out quite a bit. From there, I had to scrape around a bit…I try not to think about expectations. I just go out on the course and do my thing and it’s been working out the past two days and hopefully I’ll have a good weekend.

Going into the final 36 holes, he’s T5. Looking good, Rickie (in those white pants, too). We’ll be rooting for you.

[Photo by Marc Feldman/Getty Images]

In the upcoming months, Rickie will be giving us a behind-the-scenes look into his life on the road — both on and off the course — as a professional golfer. Stay tuned!

Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images

Congratulations to PUMA athlete Anna Nordqvist for her brilliant play at the LET Madrid Ladies Masters tournament!

Anna shot a three-day total of 16-under. Her stellar final round 10-under 63 (her career low round) got her into a playoff with Azahara Munoz. Unfortunately, in the first extra hole, Munoz made an eagle for the win. Still, a great performance by Anna. Her finish moves her to 12th in the World Golf Rankings.

The 22-year-old Swede is a rookie on the LPGA and has made 12 cuts in as many starts. She’s placed in the top 10 three times, and only six months into the season she won a major, the LPGA Championship. Not too shabby! In August she made her debut as a member of the European Solheim Cup Team — which she says is the highlight of her fantastic season — her record was 2-2-0.

Go HERE to check out a recent interview the LET did with Anna.

Our buddy Stephanie Wei from Wei Under Par is back and this time-in color too!

“I caught up with PUMA athlete and LPGA rookie Jeehae Lee, at the Sybase Classic in Clifton, New Jersey. Jeehae chats with me about various topics, such as her fantasy foursome, Twitter, and of course, the hot PUMA gear she sports on Tour.”

Talking With LPGA Rookie Jeehae Lee from Stephanie Wei on Vimeo.

Spring is in full force and PUMA Athletes are standing out on courses across the world this week.

Argentinian Daniel Vancsik is storming the leaderboard at the BMW Italian Open

Jeehae Lee at the Michelob Ultra Open

And Swedish PUMA Athlete Anna Nordqvist is blogging for the LPGA about her tournament in Morelia, Mexico.

Let’s follow their lead and get out there this weekend eh?