Rickie Fowler sent an important message on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
He is ready and willing to push his way to the top of the rankings with Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy.
Fowler found two huge clutch shots when he needed them during the final round of the HSBC Champions and walked away with a very important early season victory.
He had an early lead through six holes but saw things turn against him went a poor greenside shot from a sand waste area resulted in a double-bogey five at the par three seventh. Undaunted, Fowler pulled off the ultimate bounce-back when he holed a 35-yard bunker shot for eagle at the eighth to restore his confidence.
He would need one more great shot to insure his victory. With Belgium’s Thomas Pieters bearing down on him, Fowler chipped in for birdie at the 17th to get to 16-under par, good for a two-shot lead going to the 72nd hole.
Fowler dodged Pieters again on the 18th green when Pieters’ eagle putt stopped on the lip. Fowler calmly two-putted for the title and the earliest season victory in his career.
“This is a great start,” Fowler said as he accepted the flying Falcon trophy. “I’m working on getting ready for Augusta. And I’d like to have my shot at getting the Green Jacket there.”
Fowler’s on the right track. It was a landmark victory as he bested both Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth along with the rest of a high-quality field. McIlroy shot 31 over his final nine to get to 14-under and tie for third with Henrik Stenson while Spieth birdied his final hole tied for fifth at 11-under.
Those are two players Fowler will see again on his way to one of his goals for 2016. “The ultimate goal this year is to go win a major and this is step in the right direction for sure,” Fowler observed.
The victory was Fowler’s sixth and it should boost him to No. 4 in the world rankings, right behind Spieth, Day and McIlroy.
“I’d like to jump in there and be part of that crew,” Fowler said of the three stars in front of him.
