It’s closing time for Fowler after 2016 collapse
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — This is everything Rickie Fowler wants, and it certainly is everything the Honda Classic wants.
Starved for his first win in 37 starts, Fowler has put himself in position to win his hometown event for the first time. And those running the tournament, which this year is lacking its typical big-name star power, would love nothing more than to see Fowler hoist the trophy on Sunday.
Though he is a California native, the 28-year-old Fowler, one of the faces of the new generation of top golfers, has lived in nearby Jupiter, Fla., for six years and is a member at Medalist, the top-notch club 25 minutes up the road from PGA National and where Tiger Woods also plays.
“I feel like it’s time for me to start finishing off some more events when I am in this position,’’ Fowler said after his Friday round, which left him one shot out of the lead.
He followed his second-round 66 with a 5-under 65 on Saturday to get to 13-under and surge to a four-shot lead entering the final round.
So now Fowler has his chance to close, and win his first tournament since last year. Fowler has played in 36 PGA Tour events since he last won. A year ago, he held the 36-hole lead entering the weekend at the Honda Classic and closed with 74 and 71 to wilt to an unsatisfying sixthplace finish.
If he can close it out Sunday, it will be Fowler’s fourth career PGA Tour career.
“I’ve had some good finishes but ultimately, yeah, I would like to be getting the trophy [Sunday] on the 18th green,” Fowler said. “But there is a lot of golf to be played.’’