I’ve got my sights set on number one.
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Fowler started the final round with back-to-back birdies, but he got in trouble with a double bogey on seven. Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson tied for third one shot further back, with Jordan Spieth, the world No 1, finishing joint fifth after carding his third 68 of the week.
There was satisfaction for Fowler in claiming his fourth win worldwide in nine months, after victories at The Players Championship, the Scottish Open, and the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2015.
“I want to be playing against the best players in the world and beating the best players in the world”. “It would be a pretty good foursome”. Maybe this thing will just keep going all year, all decade even! And I’d like to have my shot at getting the Green Jacket there.
Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy dominated the headlines in the week leading up to the European Tour event, but Fowler topped McIlroy by two and Spieth by five.
After fog caused a lengthy delay to the resumption of play for the second morning running, McIlroy produced a sensational finish to his second round before ending the day tied with Rickie Fowler, Branden Grace, Ian Poulter and Joost Luiten on 10 under par. “I’m not 100 percent right”.
Fowler shot a final round 69 for a 16-under 272 to pip the Belgian runner-up Pieters – and he can thank two magical chips for his latest triumph.
PGA: Jason Dufner won the CareerBuilder Challenge with par on the second playoff hole, taking advantage of David Lingmerth’s shot off the rocks that bounced into the water.
Dufner posted a 23-under total of 193 to finish two ahead of compatriot Jamie Lovemark, who carded a 65 at the PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course.
He took a three-shot lead into the last nine holes, but came under pressure as McIlroy came home in 31 with an eagle at the last and Stenson joined him in the clubhouse on 14-under. He finally ended the week with a birdie on 18th. It looked as though the 27-year-old might cruise to victory until he suffered a setback at the par-3 7th.
With a packed schedule this summer due to golf’s return to the Olympic Games, Rory McIlroy has said categorically that he won’t be there, while Fowler was a little more reserved when it came to the question.
“We kept our head in it there, finished four under on the last seven holes, to carry some momentum going forward off of a week where I could have just bagged it in”. Sometimes you’d rather have a longer putt that you really feel good about the break. “I felt like it was a bit better this week but I still missed a lot of opportunities”.
“To come over here, my first full-field event of the 2016 season, this is a great way to start”, Fowler said in a TV interview, adding the potent line-up had made his win extra special.
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Fowler had never previously won a tournament in the first four months of a year. “I like keeping it going, which is exciting”. I’ve been swinging well and continued to get better as the week’s gone on. “I’m excited to rest, but next week will be fun”.
