"That's kind of the golden ticket these days."

Doug Ferguson asks a question that needs to be asked frequently of the world golf ranking: "What's the value of being in the top 50?" Apparently, it's worth more than winning.

It didn't take Rickie Fowler long to realize how the better half lives.

He played only 19 tour events as a pro before cracking the top 50 for the first time after a runner-up finish at the Memorial, and the 22-year-old has been there ever since. Even though he hasn't won a tournament yet, there are times it feels like he has.

"In a way, it's like you won a tournament and get status for two years," Fowler said. "If you're in the top 50, you have status."