American Rickie Fowler has no intention of adopting an angrier approach on the golf course in a bid to finally land his maiden major.
The 28-year-old suffered poor final rounds after being in contention at the Masters and the US Open earlier this year.
Fowler was criticised by journalists and commentators in his homeland for not appearing disappointed enough after a closing round of level par 72 at Erin Hills last month that left him six shots behind US Open champion Brooks Koepka having started the day only two shots off the lead.
But he said: “I’ve always been someone that doesn’t exactly show their emotions, whether it’s on or off the golf course.
“I’ve always looked at the glass half‑full and been as positive as possible.
“Inside I was p***** off but I’m not going to show that.
“That’s who I am. On the golf course, I want to control my emotions.
“I’ll be mad inside but I’m going to try to channel that in the right direction. I’m not going to let it affect the next shot.
“There have been times in everyone’s playing career when they have got upset and it has led to another mistake.
“That’s something I’ve always tried to be good at preventing.
“When I was growing up, my parents and the people around me didn’t want to see me showing any kind of anger on the golf course, such as throwing clubs or breaking anything.
“If that were ever to happen then that club would be taken away so I wanted to make sure I had 14.
“I definitely didn’t have the round that I wanted that Sunday at the US Open but I played well and put myself in a great position.
“It was still a great week but wasn’t the outcome that I necessarily wanted.”
Fowler won the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane Links two years ago but opted against defending his title at Castle Stuart 12 months ago for scheduling reasons.
The American is one of the game’s more colourful characters and likely to draw a large crowd when he tees off alongside Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson at 8.30am this morning.
Fowler, who switched from motocross to golf at 14, says he still enjoys racing dirt bikes as a way to switch off from the pressures of professional golf.
He said: “I feel like it has toned down a fraction as I’ve got older.
“This is my eighth year on tour and I’m probably not as crazy as I was when I was 17 but I will always will be an adrenaline junkie after growing up in the action sports world and racing dirt bikes.
“I’m not pushing the limits on that but doing it in a little bit of a safer environment so that a small mistake is not going to cost me a big injury.
“Being able to get away and get that fix is something I’m always going to do.”
