Golf: Fowler's quickly into the swing of tour

By Graham Skellern

Renee Fowler flew home from the United States and headed directly to Wellington to have her golf swing checked out by her coach, Mal Tongue - and he liked what he saw.

The 23-year-old Fowler, from Rotorua, wanted to be sure her ball striking was spot on before she embarked on the next crucial stage of her fledgling professional career - qualifying for the full US LPGA Tour and playing $US1 million events.

"The transition of turning pro may have seen her mature a lot; she's swinging better now than what she was before she went away," said Tongue. "The tournaments she's played and the situation she's in has kept her on top of her game."

Fowler, formerly New Zealand's No 1 amateur player, has had to earn dollars to keep afloat on the Players' West mini tour in California, and she's done it well.

In six tournaments so far she has won once, the Discovery Bay Classic, and had a total of five top-10 finishes in fields of between 50 and 70 golfers to earn $US4500 ($8500).

"I'm really happy with the way things have progressed. My results on the tour and scoring average (around 73) show I'm capable of going out and qualifying for the LPGA tour. All going well, that's where I want to be playing next year."

Fowler returns to the United States on August 15 and heads for Florida to contest the first four-round pre-qualifying event - for an entry fee of $US3000 - at the Plantation course, Venice, beginning August 19.

She would have to finish in the top half of the 140-odd field to move on to the final qualifying at the LPGA International course, Daytona Beach, during the final week of October.

If she fails at Venice, Fowler has a second chance by contesting the other pre-equalifying event at Palm Springs, California, two weeks later.

She is expected to be joined in pre-qualifying by fellow Kiwis Susan Farron, Shelley Duncan and Gina Scott who have been playing the LPGA-affiliated Futures Tour in Florida.

The golfers can earn their players' tickets on the full American tour by finishing in the top 40, out of 144, in the final qualifying event - and if they finish in the top 60 they would have a conditional exemption, which gives them up to 15 starts in the big time.

"I wouldn't say it's the be all and end all, qualifying ... if it doesn't go well then there's another year. Attempting to qualify is just one of the stepping stones to making it on the main tour," said Fowler.

If it doesn't immediately pan out, Fowler will switch to the Futures Tour next year - a top 10 end-of-year finish will also give her starts on the LPGA Tour.

Fowler also has six more tournaments remaining on the Players West Tour through to November and then she will be back home again, taking a break and then tuning up for the Australian events - including their Open and Masters championships - in January-February.