ERIN, Wis. -- Here's the problem with hype: It has an expiration date. At some point, it overstays its welcome, lingering in the air like month-old milk.
Perhaps no young golfer in recent years has been more hyped than Rickie Fowler. Consider it a combination of his sponsors' initiative and his supporters' loyalty. Since his early days on the PGA Tour, the orange-tinted frenzy around Fowler continued to peak until, well, it expired.
It's not his fault. Not even close. Younger players with similar hype, notably Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, won major championships right away, emulating the early-career ascendancy of Tiger Woods.