Rickie Fowler is looking more and more comfortable in the most uncomfortable position in golf. An anonymous survey of fellow players even insisted he was among the most overrated in this sport.
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There was satisfaction for Fowler over claiming his fourth win worldwide in nine months, after victories at The Players Championship, the Scottish Open and the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2015. Now he has come of age, with a trophy collection as proof. At the end of January past year, Fowler, 27, was met with heavy criticism for only having one win on the two major tours. I love him as a player and his chip in for birdie at the 17th was nothing short of sublime.
And another big move at the top of the rankings was only prevented when runner-up Thomas Pieters, of Belgium, charged home to displace McIlroy from a share of second that would have lifted him past Australian Jason Day (absent from the tournament) and into No. 2 in the tight rankings race. In the midst of constant concerns regarding golf’s allure and participation, its upper echelons has rarely exhibited such youthful vigour.
“It is awesome to play with the best players in the world and to beat the best players in the world”, said Fowler after securing a cheque for around £310,000. “It’s nice to have the game where it’s at right now going into the season, instead of trying to work on things and trying to find stuff”, said Fowler who hoped to take the momentum of this win into 2016’s majors.
Two moments of Fowler genius in Abu Dhabi encapsulated his brilliance.
Fowler birdied three of the remaining seven holes in his third round yesterday to break free of the congested leading group and take a two-shot lead.
Over the final 36 holes, Fowler had exactly one bad hole. Fowler’s response was an astonishing one as he chipped in from off the green, inflicting a fatal blow on those around him.
This was the 11th edition of the championship and had a stellar field consisting of eight Major champions, 89 European tour winners, six European Tour Number Ones and five former World Number Ones. Really having the belief and knowing that come Sunday when Im in the mix, I know I can go get it done..
“This is a great way to start 2016”. The goal right now with where my games at its the best its been this early in the season in my career Im working on getting ready for Augusta.
“I was talking with Michael (Greller, his caddie) up the 18th fairway, saying: ‘Wow, birdie here, we’re definitely top 10, and I felt like we were off this week”, Spieth said.
Some Rickie Fowler magic solidified his reputation as a great finisher as the American held off Thomas Pieters, Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson to win in Abu Dhabi. The seeds of impending triumph had been sewn during a third round of 65, amid which he did not record a single bogey. But after months of Rory vs. the world, or Jordan vs. Jason, or (as was the case this week) Jordan vs. Rory, there is a chance we’ve missed one.
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However, he gave back two of the shots gained with bogeys at three and five.
