American Rickie Fowler ended a long winless drought with a storming six shot sucess to claim a first pro career victory at the Kolon Korea Open.
Fowler, wearing his now traditional all-orange outfit, posted a final round thre under-par 68 final round to top the leaderboard at 16-under-par in the KRW 1m OneAsia event being played on the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course.
Rickie Fowler ends long winless drought with victory in the Kolon Korea Open. (Photo thanks to OneAsia Tour).
The 22-year old went into the last day leading by four strokes and delighted local Korean fans with the ease of his maiden success.
“It was a lot of fun and I played well early on in the final round and then I was comfortable over the last few holes,” said Fowler.
“Overall, I enjoyed the whole week and I’m really pleased.
“It just feels great to have my first win. I played well all week, although I did have to hang in on Friday and post a score. But on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday I had good control of my ball, I drove well and I made some putts.”
Fowler who went into event as the World No. 36 and will return to the States as the new No. 25 when the rankings are officially adjusted Monday morning.
And after a number of good performances Fowler heads to a break from competition but buoyed that he can finally say he’s a ‘tournament winner’.
“I’m happy with the way I have played on the PGA Tour, but I have never shot low enough to win,” he added.
“This week I played well for four rounds which I have not been able to do that in the past.”
Fowler had already followed up his breakthrough season in 2010 with four top-10 finishes this year, including fifth at The Open and runner-up finish at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
“I am looking forward to some time off and then I can look at everything and set some goals for next year,” he said.
Rickie Fowler on route to victory in Korea. (Photo thanks to OneAsia Tour).
“I will play mainly on the PGA Tour next year and I would like to get my first win there, and this win will defiantly help me achieve that.
“I also haven’t made the Tour Championship in the last two years, so that is another goal for next year. But the biggest goal is to make sure I make the Ryder Cup team.”
But while Fowler was celebrating it was another bitter disappointing outcome for reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman fired a closing day 64 to record his second straight second place result after being runner-up a week earlier in Scotland.
“It was a nice way to finish, but all the damage was done during the third round with a couple of bad holes in the middle of the round,” said McIlroy.
“Looking back on this week I will rue my third round, which could have been a lot better. If I had played a little better and shot a few under I might have had a chance, but Rickie has played fantastic this week and he deserves the win.
“I am in China next week then straight to Bermuda for the Grand Slam of Golf so I have a busy couple of weeks coming up, but I am looking forward to it.”
Overall, it is McIlroy’s third runner’s-up finish this season and the seventh of his short pro career.
Korea Republic’s Kim Meen-whee was three shots further adrift in third place after a level par final round.
Leading scores after the final round of the Kolon Korea Open being played at the par 71, 7225 Yards Woo Jeong Hills Country Club (am= denotes amateur):
268 – Rickie Fowler (USA) 67-70-63-68.
274 – Rory McIlroy (NIR) 68-69-73-64.
277 – Kim Meen-Whee (KOR) 69-71-66-71.
279 – YE Yang (KOR) 67-70-67-75.
281 – Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 72-69-70-70.
283 – John Huh (USA) 69-73-72-69, Lee Kyoung-hoon (KOR) 74-71-68-70.
284 – Bronson La’Cassie (AUS) 70-67-73-74.
285 – Kim Seung-hyuk (KOR) 72-73-70-70.
287 – Kim Dae-hyun (KOR) 73-71-73-70, Andre Stolz (AUS) 76-71-69-71, Lee Soo-min (am, KOR) 68-73-74-72.
* Special thanks again to Andrew Mullen OneAsia Tour for his great assistance.
