Niall Kearney exclusive on Rickie Fowler returning to the top of the leaderboards
Niall Kearney has watched Rickie Fowler’s career with interest ever since he played against him in 2009 Walker Cup. “His swing has changed a lot since then, he was an absolute gentlemen and it’s interesting to watch him certainly over the last 10 years”. Fowler won some of the biggest tournaments on the PGA Tour which includes The Players Championship in 2015 with Butch Harmon as his coach but made the decision to return to Harmon for 2022/2023 season. “He started great when he went on tour then he made some swing changes, hit a little bit of a dark patch certainly for the last couple of years but it’s great to see him come out the other side now”.
The American finished several times inside the top 15 throughout the season but his best two finishes was a top five at the RBC Heritage and runner-up at the ZOZO Championship. “He is swinging it better than ever and starting to shoot great scores again which is good to see”. Fowler is back inside the top 50 in the world golf rankings which is for the first time since January 2021. Fowler has never won a major but he will be looking to continue his improved form at the PGA Championship.
Kearney reviews his latest two Challenge Tour events and is looking forward to this week’s tournament in Netherlands. “I hit the ball well but didn’t score very well as I did ok the first week then I missed the cut by a shot in Abu Dhabi“. The Dubliner feels optimistic for the Summer ahead on the Challenge Tour. “I feel it’s going to be a good year as I have about 18 weeks to go in the season”.
Irish golfer Gary Hurley was successful in achieving his 2022/2023 DP World Tour card and Kearney is looking to make it two great years in a row for the Irish. “I’m trying to get back onto the DP World Tour but you have to finish in the top 20 in Challenge Tour Race to Mallorca to achieve that goal”. The Dubliner has won three times as a professional which includes two Irish PGA Championship victory’s and is looking to achieve a win in 2023 on the Challenge Tour. “I would love to win on the Challenge Tour that’s another goal but it’s gone very difficult to win on the Challenge Tour as it’s massively competitive”.
Kearney reveals that the rise of LIV Tour has helped in receiving invites for DP World Tour events. “The guys that went to LIV helped my case because I wasn’t a full card holder and I was starting weeks as a reserve”. Every golfer loves to watch the PGA Tour especially the final round but Kearney feels it’s not the same with major champions not in the field anymore. “It’s disappointing with the PGA Tour as well switching on the TV on a Sunday night to watch the golf and you are not looking at the best players in the world as there is so many great guys that have joined LIV which includes major champions Dustin Johnson & Cameron Smith”.
The designated events on the PGA Tour has helped in keeping it competitive but the strength of a field on a regular basis has weakened due to LIV Tour. “It’s probably a bit disappointing for the golf fan”. Kearney gives an insight on how the mood is with players on tour since the rise of the breakaway rival league. “The atmosphere has changed a little bit and I don’t necessarily know what the situation is going to be but it’s certainly tricky times”.
Tiger Woods has won 82 PGA Tour events which includes winning 15 majors. “Yeah it’s certainly difficult to watch Tiger as he was a hero of mine”. Woods had to withdraw from The Masters in April 2023 and it has been revealed that he had another surgery on his ankle. “I don’t know what the future holds for him as I would like to see him play a lot longer”.
Kearney has grown a great relationship with fellow Irish golfer Seamus Power as they went to college together and is delighted in how well the Waterford star is playing in America. “In fairness to him he went to tours got himself out onto the PGA Tour and he has been flying ever since”. Power shot a final round of seven under to finish in a tie for 19th at AT & T Byron Nelson and the Waterford star is in decent form as the second major of the year quickly approaches. “I played with him at Mount Juliet in the Irish Open last year and his game is so strong as his game is totally at a different level now”.
The Irish Open is at the K Club in September but Kearney is unsure whether he will be playing in it or not. “I will need to get an invite this year because I’m a Challenge Tour holder as I don’t have main tour rights anymore”. The Dubliner also said that he would like to continue his love for the Irish Open in 2023. “I have really enjoyed it especially the last few years as I played well at Mount Juliet last year”.
It was an absolute pleasure to catch up with Irish professional golfer Niall Kearney and I wish him all the best especially in having a successful Summer on the Challenge Tour.