A NARROW ESCAPE
Fowler blows huge lead but wins title
Rickie Fowler overcame inclement weather and a strange 11th hole to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Sunday. Fowler was on cruise control for 3 1⁄2 rounds and built a five-shot lead before an epic meltdown on the 11th hole that included two balls in the water, one he hit there and one that rolled in unexpectedly. But he held on by his fingernails for a two-stroke victory. Fans walk through mud during the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Sunday.
After the near misses he has experienced in this event, Rickie Fowler knew it would not be easy to claim the title in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
That proved to be the case on Super Bowl Sunday as Fowler squandered a five-shot lead on the back nine and then held on by his fingernails for a two-stroke, wire-to-wire victory over Branden Grace, who started the round
seven shots behind.
It was the fifth PGA Tour win for Fowler and first since the 2017 Honda Classic, as he finished at 17-under 267 and earned $1.28 million for the victory.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I thought it was going to be a lot easier than that today,” Fowler said after shooting a 74, which was the highest final round by a winner in the history of the event on a cold, wet and windy day at TPC Scottsdale. “I just had to roll with the punches and there were a couple of big ones.
“I’m happy to finally get this one out of the way. It’s been a long time coming to get the win here. This one is a little more special.”
Justin Thomas finished three shots behind and Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson and former Arizona State standout Chez Reavie tied for fourth, five shots behind. Reavie, who lost in a playoff here last year, shot 10-under for the weekend, which led the field.
Fowler had posted two runner-up finishes in this event, including a playoff loss in 2016 after he led by 2 shots with two holes to play. He also led the 2018 event after three rounds but a finalround 73 dropped him to a tie for 11th.
It looked as if he would be derailed again Sunday after taking a five-shot lead with a birdie on the 10th hole, as he then triple-bogeyed the 11th in a bizarre sequence of events.
His short chip shot from the fairway skidded across the green and into a water hazard, requiring a drop and a oneshot penalty.
After dropping his ball, Fowler walked up to the green to assess his shot and when he looked back to where his ball was, the ball started rolling and went back into the water. He received another penalty stroke because he wasn’t certain that his ball had completely come to rest after the first drop. After a second drop, he chipped on and made the putt for a triple-bogey 7.
As that was transpiring, one hole ahead, Grace was knocking in a birdie putt to pull within one shot of the lead. Fowler then bogeyed the 12th hole and Grace made another birdie at 13 to take over the lead for the first time all week.
In the space of three holes, Fowler had gone from leading by five to trailing by one.
“Other than two holes it was a solid round of golf,” said Fowler, who became the first player since 1983 to win a PGA Tour event with a double bogey and triple bogey in the final round. “After 11, things were not going our way so it was nice to be able to play a good final five or six holes.”
Grace found trouble of his own on the 17th hole, a short par-4 that has derailed several players in the final round, including Fowler three years ago. Grace’s tee shot found the water hazard, just as Fowler’s did in 2016, leading to a bogey that dropped him one shot behind.
Right behind him, Fowler drove the 17th green and two-putted for a birdie that gave him a two-shot lead. He then parred the final hole to close out the win.
“When you come out here and have a day like today, you never know what’s going to happen,” Grace said. “It can either go your way or it could backfire, but props to him for hanging in there. He dug deep and pulled it off.”
Fowler said it was “the most tested” he has ever been on a golf course.
“I’ve been in similar situations where I came out on top,” he said, “but to be able to put everything behind us today, that was big. I’m definitely proud of the way we were able to do that.”
Making it all the more special was that he had so many family members, friends and his fiancée, Allison Stokke, in the gallery. It was the first time his father and grandparents have seen him win in person.
“The amount of times I’ve been in contention here, my dad’s always been here and my grandparents have always been here,” said Fowler, who has four top-five finishes in this event.
“It’s always been pretty disappointing to have them here and feel like we were so close to winning, so it’s nice to finally get that done.”