Honda Classic: Rickie Fowler wins 4th PGA title
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Rickie Fowler claimed his fourth PGA Tour title at the Honda Classic with a one-over-par round of 71, easing to a four-shot victory at the first event of the Florida swing.
Despite starting four ahead, Fowler faltered on the front nine of PGA National. He struggled to keep his driver on the fairway, resulting in a double-bogey on the 6th after finding the water from the tee.
A sublime bunker play on the 7th was followed by a world class shot from the trees on the 8th, which led to his second birdie of the day and allowed him to once again extend his lead.
It was a tale of two nines, and back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 put Fowler three ahead of compatriot Gary Woodland, who mounted the biggest challenge of the day. He twice reduced the gap to two-shots, but having bogeyed the 17th and finding the water on the final hole he fell back to eight-under-par with Morgan Hoffman and four behind Fowler by close of play.
“The putter saved me today,” Fowler said after his round.
“Turning at two-over, I really felt that even par was probably going to be ok from there in but some cushion defnitely makes it nicer and a little easier coming in. The putts at 12 and 13 really did that for me.”
A wayward tee-shot on the 17th left Rickie in the water at the final hole of the Bear Trap before struggling from the sand on the last, but a bogey-bogey finish was enough for the 28-year-old to convert his first ever victory from a 54-hole lead.
“I knew I had a bit of a lead and it’s nice to have a cushion when you are playing those last few holes so I was just trying to make some good swings.”
This is Fowler’s first win on the PGA Tour since September 2015, and the former world no.4 now moves to 10th place in the FedEx Cup as a result.
Rickie Fowler: In the bag
Driver: Cobra King F7+ (8.5 degrees, draw setting)
Shaft: Aldila NV 2K Blue 70X (43.5 inches)
3-Wood: Cobra Fly-Z+ (13 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 70TX
5-Wood: Cobra F6 Baffler Rail (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 75TX
Irons: Cobra King Forged MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper 125 S+ (0.5 inch shorter)
Wedges: Cobra King V Grind (52, 56 and 60 degrees)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x