Rickie Fowler's Victory Proves He's Mature Beyond His Years

The term "overrated" was far too overblown to describe Rickie Fowler initially. However, Fowler's final round at The Players Championship showed the world what he was missing last season.

Fowler's 2014 season doesn't receive enough credit. Although the famous Ricky Bobby once said, "If you ain't first, you're last," in golf, it's different.

Fowler made just over $4.8 million, finished in the top five in each major championship and represented Team USA at the Ryder Cup. For any 25-year-old on the PGA Tour, this would be a career year.

Not for Fowler, though.

Instead, Fowler's peers voted him the most overrated player on the PGA Tour, and he served as Rory McIlroy's whipping boy. Fowler was essentially turning into the Chris DiMarco to Tiger Woods.

DiMarco finished second to Woods in two majors from 2005-2006 and also lost in a playoff to Vijay Singh at the 2004 PGA Championship. Although DiMarco was having great finishes, never winning that big tournament eluded him.

After losing to McIlroy during the 2014 PGA Championship, Fowler was devastated. Via Brian Wacker of PGATour.com, Fowler's caddie, Joe Skovron, explained:

"

It beat us up after the PGA. We thought we were going to win that tournament. I wholeheartedly believed it, he wholeheartedly believed it. We didn't win it. But that's what golf is. That's what makes this so much more special. To do it (like this), it doesn't get any better than that.

"

Only the great athletes rally from devastating defeats, and that's what Fowler did with his Players Championship victory.

Finishing with four birdies and an eagle to close his round was spectacular. Fowler's eagle on No. 16 was one of the most clutch shots in recent memory.

It's impossible for him to make the playoff without that eagle. Forget the clutch performances that ensued. That single shot showcased Fowler's maturity.

Prior to his victory last weekend, Fowler was known more for his looks rather than his golf swing.

Look at the difference from his first career victory at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship compared to the Players.

Instead of being recognized for the long hair, mustache and orange outfit, everybody was finally praising his game.

Fowler looked more professional with his Mother's Day pink over his regular Sunday orange. Also, his latest Sunday wardrobe matches a green jacket quite better, so it's probably a good idea to stick with it.

Many writers predicted that Fowler was on the verge of something big in 2015, and he backed it up last weekend.

Fowler doesn't need another victory this season to show the world that he's one of the best young players in the game, but it wouldn't hurt. With Jordan Spieth, McIlroy and Fowler all winners in three of the bigger tournaments thus far, golf's in a great state moving forward.

Tiger who?

Maturity comes with age, and Fowler's Sunday finish showed a man far beyond his years. Regardless of his future outcomes, Fowler's season is already a success. Sunday's ending may have been the best in years, and it takes a special player for such a big-time finish.

With the NHL and NBA playoffs going on right now, Fowler's performance was equivalent to LeBron James' Game 4 buzzer-beater or any overtime goal.

Big-time players use those platforms for special moments, and that's exactly what Fowler did.

Love him or hate him, Fowler advanced his career a few years with this victory and will be flying up the Official World Golf Ranking for years to come.