Honda Classic: Rickie Fowler wins first PGA tour trophy since 2015
For the first time since 2015, Rickie Fowler is a PGA Tour champion after taking out the Honda Classic by four strokes.
Not since his one-shot win at the Deutsche Bank Championship in September 2015 had Fowler lifted a trophy on Tour.
But that all changed on Sunday when the highly-rated American topped the Honda Classic leaderboard at 12 under in Florida.
Despite his run of three consecutive rounds in the 60s coming to an end after carding a one-over-par 71, Fowler still managed to finish ahead of countrymen Morgan Hoffmann and Gary Woodland at PGA National.
Winner! @RickieFowler wins @TheHondaClassic for his fourth career victory.
He moves to 10th in the FedExCup. pic.twitter.com/YEMTdDBDwZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2017
It was a difficult day for Fowler, who holed four bogeys and a double bogey as he closed out the tournament by dropping back-to-back shots, but the 28-year-old was not to be denied a fourth Tour title.
“My putter saved me.”
Rickie Fowler finished the week second in SG: Putting. pic.twitter.com/g4dGzZ97fa
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2017
Hoffmann soared into a share of second position thanks to his final-round 68, which consisted of three birdies and a bogey
Woodland bogeyed his final two holes but still finished alongside Hoffmann following his 69.
There was a six-way tie for fourth at seven under, which featured Martin Kaymer (70), Billy Horschel (68) and Jhonattan Vegas (64), while Graham DeLaet (70) was a shot further back.
Vegas did produce one of the highlights of the day with a hole-in-one at the 179-yard par-three 15th.
Hole-in-one alert
Viva Las Vegas.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/rodNjYKbXr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 26, 2017
Former world number one Adam Scott’s title defence ended with him eight strokes adrift of Fowler.
Scott carded a two-under-par 68 and he was joined at four under by the likes of Sergio Garcia (71), Graeme McDowell (69) and Jason Dufner (72).
