Rickie Fowler will be the only USA golfer to walk in Olympics opening ceremonies

NORTON, Mass. — Rickie Fowler, the only member of the U.S. men’s Olympic golf team who will take part in Friday’s opening ceremonies, is gung-ho about the summer games, but make no mistake: A major title totally trumps a gold medal for the reigning Deutsche Bank Champion.

“Major,” he told SB Nation without hesitation on Monday from TPC Boston about whether he yearns more to hoist a trophy at The Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, or PGA Championship, or drape a medal from his shoulders in Rio.

Fowler is among a select group of players tabbed as the “best golfer without a major” since Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson recently crossed themselves off that good news-bad news list. But the winner of three PGA Tour events contended it was just an honor to be nominated.

“Pretty cool to be in that group. Definitely some great golfers that have not won a major,” Fowler said, no doubt referring to such players as stalwarts Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood and up-and-comers Brooks Koepka and Branden Grace. “To be talked about with them, pretty cool.”

Noting that he has had his chances (he notched four top-fives in 2014, coming in second at the U.S. and British Opens), Fowler was confident he would eventually “knock one off.”

But that will have to wait until at least April, when the Masters kicks off the 2017 major season. In the meantime, there’s a full slate of golf yet to come this year — starting with the Olympics on Aug. 11 (the women play the following week), the FedEx Cup series, and the Ryder Cup.

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Fowler, who will remain in Rio through the Olympics, would like to play for Davis Love III at Hazeltine and recognized that participating in the opening ceremonies and the games rather than playing at the Travelers Championship and/orJohn Deere Classic in the next two weeks dampened his chances of making the 12-player team. Now 12th in the standings, he could still make his case with strong performances at the Wyndham Championship and The Barclays, the first FedEx Cup event and last tournament before Davis names his squad.

“This summer’s definitely been different than before, especially with how packed the majors were and then with a few of us that are going down to Rio and then right into the playoffs,” said Fowler, a likely candidate for one of the four captain’s picks if he does not make the team outright.

“I took a little bit more time off through the first part of the season to kind of prepare for the busy summer that was ahead,” added Fowler, whose best major finish in 2016 was T33 at last week’s PGA Championship. “I haven’t played as well as I would have liked to the past few months, which has kind of put me in a tough position.”

First things first, though, for Fowler, one of only three male golfers in the top 10 who will start in the Olympics. The top four (Jason Day, DJ, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy) have opted out for a variety of reasons, while the next three — British Open champion Stenson, Bubba Watson, and Fowler — will play in Rio.

Fowler will stand in for teammates Watson, Matt Kuchar, and Patrick Reed on Friday, all of whom will start at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut this weekend.

“I always wanted to have that opportunity, especially with the way the schedule worked,” said Fowler, who will defend his Deutsche Bank title over Labor Day weekend. “So now I’ll be the only golfer, but it will be pretty cool.”

With his trainer in tow, Fowler will practice as he always does between events. But he’ll also enjoy the entire Olympics scene.

“Looking forward to not just the opening ceremonies,” Fowler said, “but getting to see some of the other athletes that are down there and seeing greatness happen in front of me.”