Redemption for Rickie
Just a week after a poll of anonymous PGA Tour players voted Rickie Fowler (and Ian Poulter) the most overrated player on Tour, Fowler was left standing after a furious finish at Sawgrass to win The Players.
Fowler played the final six holes of regulation at six under par. Fowler eagled the Par 5 16th hole, birdied the Par 3 17th, and birdied the Par 4 18th hole and then waited for the rest of the field to finish. By the time the dust settled, it was a three-man playoff featuring Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, and Kevin Kisner.
All three players parred the 16h hole. Kisner and Fowler both birdied the 17th, and everyone parred the 18th hole. With Garcia eliminated, it was Kisner v. Fowler on the 17th green. Fowler continued his dominance over the island green hitting his approach to inside of five feet. When Kisner's putt missed, the stage was set for Fowler to capture the biggest championship of his career.
Fowler is great for the game of golf. Whether the golf bosses want to admit it, the tides of golf are changing as the pleated khakis get retired. The health and success of golf into the future will require an infusion of youth. Rickie Fowler attracts that demographic. Just look at your local golf course - you'll see tweens and seniors wearing a Puma orange hat. A golfing future featuring Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Rickie Fowler is very bright and very exciting.
Fowler played the final six holes of regulation at six under par. Fowler eagled the Par 5 16th hole, birdied the Par 3 17th, and birdied the Par 4 18th hole and then waited for the rest of the field to finish. By the time the dust settled, it was a three-man playoff featuring Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, and Kevin Kisner.
All three players parred the 16h hole. Kisner and Fowler both birdied the 17th, and everyone parred the 18th hole. With Garcia eliminated, it was Kisner v. Fowler on the 17th green. Fowler continued his dominance over the island green hitting his approach to inside of five feet. When Kisner's putt missed, the stage was set for Fowler to capture the biggest championship of his career.
Fowler is great for the game of golf. Whether the golf bosses want to admit it, the tides of golf are changing as the pleated khakis get retired. The health and success of golf into the future will require an infusion of youth. Rickie Fowler attracts that demographic. Just look at your local golf course - you'll see tweens and seniors wearing a Puma orange hat. A golfing future featuring Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Rickie Fowler is very bright and very exciting.
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