Fowler hasn’t contended in months

True enough, but unlike with world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, the Fowler meter is still running on empty in the United States, where the colorful 23-year-old is still trying to live up to his considerable skills, even bigger reputation and a gallery audience that tops 'em both.

Already the third-biggest fan draw on the PGA Tour behind veteran mega-stars Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, he’s been left stalled at the starting gate by McIlroy, who turns 23 on Friday and already has a major championship to his credit. McIlroy also won this week’s event, the Wells Fargo Championship, in 2010.

Fowler’s longtime swing coach in California died a year ago, and Fowler hasn’t hired a replacement. Like Watson, a frequent practice partner, he’s basically doing it as a feel player, minus a second discount golf clubs set of discerning eyeballs. His caddie Joe Skovron notwithstanding.

Although, as Fowler reminded, he did beat the Ulsterman by six shots to win the Korean Open last fall, an event that also included Korean notables Y.E. Yang, Seung-yul Noh and John Huh, all currently playing on the PGA Tour with some distinction. But since nobody in the States saw the victory on TV, it was relegated to the category of, out of sight, out of mind.

Fowler, who played on the 2010 Ryder Cup team, said he entered the season with three goals spot-welded into brain: Win his first tour event, make it to the FedEx Cup finals, and earn a spot on the Ryder team in Chicago. So far, they remain blurry spots on the horizon at best, though after an opening 6-under 66 at Quail Hollow, which left him locked in a tie for the first-round lead, he’s better positioned than at any point in months.

Watson won the Masters three weeks ago, with Fowler tagging along in the gallery for moral support in the playoff, proving that you don’t need an "entourage," as Skovron put it, to win big.

Fowler said that even though he hasn’t contended in months -- his best finish this season was T7 at the Honda Classic two months ago -- he wasn’t tempted to call Butch Harmon, Sean Foley or any Ping G20 driver of the other swing doctors many other players have on speed dial. Fowler knows his swing faults and has learned how to self-diagnose his fixes.

A victory on a stage like Quail Hollow, with players like McIlroy, Wooods, Mickelson and Lee Westwood in the field, would send his popularity up yet another notch, not to mention end some of the eyebrows that have slowly been raised as his victory drought in the States is well into a third season.

He’s actually broken out a Band-Aid of his own last week, when on the practice green at New Orleans, he switched to a left-hand-low putting grip, which he used at times as a teenager. He recalls shooting scores of 10 under on four occasions as a kid with different grips.

Fowler, whose colorful attire, new facial hair and shaggy haircut make him look a little like Capt. Jack Sparrow, played the last 12 holes in 6 under, and like his best friend on tour, Bubba Watson, he’s making his way along in the professional ranks basically flying solo.

Guys have gone cross-eyed trying to fix their strokes over the years. A few more putts toppling in the hole could make all the difference, since he had skidded from 31st in strokes-gained putting to a rather stunning 154th this year. He made four birdie putts from outside five feet Thursday.

"I feel that I'm good enough to win," he said. "I definitely feel like, with the amount of people expecting or thinking that I can win, is a compliment. You know, with it being my main goal for this year, that's my main focus."

As ever, Fowler drew a throng, regardless. He was dressed in sort of a cobalt turquoise ensemble in the first round, and while it might not work for the old guard, the young fans have embraced him as a generational idol. But it’s not just kids. You know he’s in a different ping g15 irons level of public approbation when you see adults wearing the flat-billed caps in neon orange, Fowler’s traditional Sunday attire.

The 66 was his best opening round of the season by two strokes, and was within one of his best round, period, which was recorded last week when he finished 10th at New Orleans.

"It's definitely been a slow year," said Fowler, whose new television commercials for a national hotel chain began airing last month. "It's getting there, though.

"I've felt like I've made some really good swings the past few weeks, so hopefully I'm turning a corner, can get into contention and start having some fun and start