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SAN MARTIN, Calif. (AP) - Rickie Fowler came close to winning his first PGA Tour title last year at the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.

He's hoping a different site will bring a different result.

``There's some unfinished business,'' said Fowler, the U.S. Ryder Cup player decked out in a purple shirt and white pants. ``I think winning is the start of the process. The more I am in contention, the more comfortable I feel.''

The Fall Series event has shifted to CordeValle Golf Club, about 30 miles south of San Jose, Calif.

``I want to put myself in contention to have a chance to win on Sunday,'' Fowler said. ``The Fall Series was a big part of me getting started on the tour. It gave me the confidence.''

The colorful 21-year-old Fowler followed his impressive performance last season by finishing second twice this season, climbing to No. 33 in the rankings.

``That was my second tournament and I have to thank Frys for giving me the spot,'' Fowler said. ``It gave me the confidence to go to Q-School, get my card and run around the tour in 2010.''

Team Fowler even won the pro-am Wednesday.

Fowler began playing in tournaments at the age of 4 1/2, and spent hours hitting balls at the driving range.

``I had a coach from when I was 7 through high school,'' Fowler said. ``Basically he sat in a chair, smoked a cigar and watched me swing. He didn't know how to run a video camera. But he taught me how to teach myself.''

Southern California grad Jamie Lovemark, part of the three-way playoff in last year's event, played the CordeValle course about a dozen times during his collegiate days.

``The course has changed a little bit,'' he said. ``There are some new tees and the rough is longer. It's playing a lot tougher but some of the lines and the greens are the same.''

Ricky Barnes, a Stockton native and the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion and 2003 NCAA champion in his senior year at Arizona, said, ``Anywhere within about two hours of Northern California feels like home.''

Two-time major winners Lee Janzen and John Daly also are in the field.

Past winners in the current field include Cameron Beckman and defending champ Troy Matteson, who won a three-way playoff over Fowler and Lovemark.

Stanford grad Joseph Bramlett, part of the 2006 NCAA championship team, received a sponsor exemption to play. This is his second pro tournament.