World No. 9 Rickie Fowler stood on the 17th tee at Royal County County no doubt thinking to himself he had a pretty good chance of capturing back-to-back victories with success in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The reigning Players Championship winner had just holed a 35-yard chip shot from in front of the green at the shortened par four 16th to go from two over par to two under par.

However the joy was short-lived for the visiting American with Royal County Down about to get its own back.

Rickie Fowler embraces his ‘match-stick’ girlfriend after finishing 2 – 8 – 8.

What followed was bizarre with Fowler posting back-to-back ‘8s’ – a 17th hole quadruple bogey and a closing hole triple bogey.

And ‘Fautly’ Fowler’s woes came than a fortnight after his covered the closing four holes at TPC Sawgrass in just 11 shots and then went onto to win the Players at the fourth extra play-off hole.

Here’s how  Rickie collapsed over today’s last two holes to end his round with a shock 76 that saw him crash to a share of 36th place at five under par.

17th Hole – Par 4 – 433-Yards.

1.  Drive out-of-bounds right onto Car Park 7

2. Penalty shot

3.  Drive lost in gorse bushes left with Fowler returning to the tee.

4. Penalty shot.

5. Tee shot finds fairway

6.  Fowler short of the green.

7. Chips just short of the flagstick

8.  Holes putt for quadruple bogey.

18th Hole – Par 5 – 548 Yards.

1. Fowler drives out-of-bounds right albeit by just six inches onto the practice range

2. Penalty shot

3.  3-wood off the tee.

4. Iron short down fairway.

5. Chips short of the green.

6. Finds the putting surface

7 & 8. Two putts for triple bogey.

Rickie Fowler finds comfort in the arms of his girlfriend after finishing 2, 8, 8.