American golfing heart-throb Rickie Fowler took a huge step towards a first Major Championship success with his play-off victory in the Players Championship.
Fowler denied TPC Sawgrass rookie and fellow American Kevin Kisner holing a five-foot birdie at the fourth extra hole, the par three 17th, and his third birdie of the day at the famed island green.
Indeed, Fowler was 10-under par for the last eight holes having played the closing six during regulation in six under par and then birding the 17th twice in the play-off.
The 25-year old Fowler, who is set to contest the Irish Open later this month, collected the biggest prize cheque of his career a cool $US 1.8m, and a victory to re-ignite his rivalry with World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who posted a last day 70 to share eighth place.
Fowler’s triumph comes on the back of two seconds and a third in the last three Majors of 2014.
Rickie Fowler celebrates after holing the winning Players C’ship putt. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
It is Fowler’s second PGA Tour triumph and coming three years after capturing the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship.
He said: “I’ve waited a long time for this, to get back into the winner’s circle. This is now my favourite event of the year. It was great fun and it’s been a great afternoon. I felt really good all week and while I struggled with fairways and greens this week, I gained a lot of confidence playing last week.
“So I am very happy with my week and this win is something to look back on.”
Fowler, Kisner and Spain’s Sergio Garcia had ended regulation play locked at 12-under par locked at 12-under par with Fowler first into the clubhouse completing his last six holes in a sizzling six under par and capped with a 16th hole eagle in a round of 67.
Garcia tied Fowler in birding 16 and 17 for a score of 68 before Kisner also birdied 16 and 17 in a round of 69 to send the $US 10m event into a first-ever three-hole aggregate play-off over the last three holes.
In the play-off, all three pared the par five 16th before Fowler and Kisner birdied 17th while Garcia walked off with par.
And when all three pared the last, it meant Garcia dropping out.
In fact, Garcia could look back to Friday’s indifferent round of 72 and with the 35-year old’s frustration mirrored in snapping his putter in half and tossing the remains in a clubhouse garbage bin.
He said: “It was a solid week and considering the way I putted the first three days, it’s been another great week for me at the Players.”
Fowler and Kisner then were conveyed back to the 17th where Fowler sealed success/
McIlroy was headed south frustrated after posting his third straight Players top-10 before heading north later this week to the Wells Fargo where he savoured a first PGA Tour triumph in 2010.
He said: “My game is right there and I am expecting a week if I hole putts then I will be in winning position.
“But then I am leaving Sawgrass frustrated again and it’s that sort of golf course and you look at the scores and I am only three behind the leader with no one going low.
“So that’s why I am coming off the course frustrated in feeling I have left five to 10 shots out there this week.
“But then ball-striking wise I am really happy where I am tee to green and I am in a very good place going into the summer”.
Tiger Woods continues to struggle shooting a final day 72 for a three over par tally and a share of 69th place and his poorest in 16 appearances at the Players.
