Rickie Fowler ready to take next major step at US Open

Rickie Fowler says after contending in all four majors last year and then winning The Players Championship in May, he is finally ready to claim his first Grand Slam title at the 115th US Open.

In 2014, the 26-year-old American finished in the top five in all four major championships in a calendar year, something only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus can claim.

Fowler followed that up last month by outlasting Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner in a playoff to win The Players Championship which is sometimes referred to as the unofficial fifth major because of its strong field and difficult layout.

"It would be nice to put a major on the resume," said Fowler after his practice round on Tuesday. "Being in the winner`s circle just a few weeks back, I`d really like to have that chance here come Sunday."

Fowler, who is ranked ninth in the world, has a huge fan base in his home country and will be one of the players to watch at the US Open which begins Thursday at Chambers Bay golf course, near Seattle, Washington.

His 2014 Grand Slam campaign comprised a tie for fifth at The Masters, tie for second at both the US Open and British Open and a tie for third at the PGA Championship.

Fowler says he is no longer in awe of his peers after his Grand Slam performances.

"After my performance last year in the majors, I really felt like I belonged on the big stage," he said. "I proved that this is the kind of game I have.

"Taking care of business at The Players, that`s where I want to be. I want to be in contention and win golf tournaments."

But despite all that there is a sense that there are more goals to achieve.

"The four majors were solid weeks. I managed to put myself in contention and put together great rounds and end up making history with four great finishes," he said.

"But there`s a difference between being a top five guy and getting the job done and being the last one standing and holding the trophy at the end.

"I definitely feel like the win at the Players was the next step to holding the trophy at a major."

Fowler enjoyed his best finish at the US Open last year at Pinehurst when he shared second place with Erik Compton.

At the Players, he played his final six holes in six under, and then birdied the fourth playoff hole to take the title over Garcia and Kisner.

"I was playing so far back with six to play and then managed to rally and make something happen," he said.

"In the playoff I was looking at it as if I had nothing to lose. I wanted to go out and win the tournament after the finish that I had.

"I just continued to make great swings. It was nice to be able to pull it off."

Fowler will be trying to follow in the footsteps of defending US Open champ Martin Kaymer, who last year won the Players Championship and then followed it up a couple weeks later with a US Open title.

"I would love to do the same as he did last year," Fowler said. "And I really feel comfortable on this golf course. I love playing links golf.

"I`ve played well in the British Open overseas. And being that I have played well in the US Open, I feel like putting the two together with the links style and US Open setup could turn out to be a great week."

Fowler was also asked Tuesday about his Japanese ancestry. His middle name, Yutaka, comes from his maternal grandfather, who is Japanese.

"I`m one quarter Japanese," he said. "And the Japanese side of the heritage is very special to me.

"My grandpa is the one that got me started in golf. I`m really looking forward to having the opportunity to get over to Japan soon.

"I know I have a lot of fans over there. I haven`t been back to Japan since -- I think I was in high school. I played a junior golf tournament there."