Rickie Fowler claimed his first victory in 18 months after winning the Honda Classic by four shots.
The world No.18 had not won since the Deutsche Bank Championship in September 2015, but secured his fourth PGA Tour title with a commanding performance at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida.
He started the final day with a four-shot lead, and despite bogeying the final two holes, shot a one-under par 71 and finished with a 12-under total of 268, four shots ahead of Morgan Hoffmann and Gary Woodland.
“I didn’t play great, and it wasn’t a pretty round, but we got the job done – a win is a win,” said the 25-year-old. “My putter saved me. It was tough out there, and I fought as hard as I could. I felt like I hit a lot of shots that I thought would turn out ok, but the wind was blowing pretty strong at times, so it kept us on our toes. If I hadn’t made those two birdies on 12 and 13, it would have been a pretty tight race.”
England’s Tyrrell Hatton, playing in his first PGA Tour start in Florida on an invitation, started the final round in second place, and played alongside Fowler in the final group, but carded a two-over par 72 to finish in a group of six players sharing fourth on seven under. His missed a three-foot putt on the 17th that would have seen him tied for second. “Tough day for me, gutted with 17 and 18,” Hatton wrote latter on Twitter. “On the flip side, it was pretty cool playing in the final group, some of the loudest roars I’ve heard!”
Rickie Fowler’s ‘What’s in the bag’
- Driver: KING F7+ Black | 8.5° D; 12g weight in front | Aldila NV 2K Blue 70X | 43.5”
- 3 Wood: Fly-Z+ 3W | 13° Orange |Aldila Tour Blue 75TX
- 5 Wood: KING F6 Baffler Rail 5wd | 5° | Aldila Tour Blue 75TX
- Irons: KING Forged MB Irons (4-P) | KBS Tour C-Taper S+ 125
- Wedges: KING V-Grind | 52°, 56°, 60° | Ture Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
- Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Newport 2 prototype
