SCOTTSDALE – The Waste Management Phoenix Open hasn’t always been kind to Rickie Fowler. For a short time on Sunday, it looked like that might be the case again.
But Fowler overcame a triple bogey on 11 at the TPC Scottsdale to finish at 17-under 267 and beat Branden Grace by two shots for his fifth PGA Tour title.
“Yeah, this one is a little more special,” he said. “It’s not just the normal event. I love the atmosphere here, I love the fans. They have always been great to me. The Thunderbirds have been nothing short of amazing to me, giving me a spot here when I was an (amateur) at Oklahoma State.”
It was a far better result than last year, when he had the lead after Saturday’s play before shooting a 2-over 73 and falling six shots behind winner Gary Woodland.
Although attendance wasn’t kept at the Open for the first time, the Thunderbirds, the charity arm of the tournament, deemed it a success. Beautiful weather Saturday drew a big crowd, although rain on Sunday kept many fans away.