Rickie Fowler survives stumble to win The Honda Classic
The American came through to finish clear of Gary Woodland and Morgan Hoffman


Rickie Fowler of the USA survived a Sunday stumble to pull through and win The Honda Classic by four shots over Morgan Hoffman and Gary Woodland.
Rickie Fowler began the final round of The Honda Classic at PGA National with a four stroke lead. But he stumbled on the front nine with a bogey on the 4th and then a double bogey on the 6th after driving into the water.
Although he rebounded with a birdie on the 8th, when Gary Woodland picked up a shot on the 13th, Fowler’s lead was down to just one shot. It looked like being a close run to the line, but the proximity of his pursuers appeared to spur Fowler into action.
Fowler rolled in a long putt on the 12th and followed it with another on the 13th. He was then able to relax and he played solidly over the closing holes to rack up his fourth PGA Tour title.
“If I don’t make those putts, I’ve got a tight race,” he said afterwards.
Gary Woodland dropped back further on the 17th and ended the week in a tie for second with Morgan Hoffman – four shots back of Fowler.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton enjoyed a great week, finishing up in a six-way tie for fourth.
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3 Talking points from The Honda Classic
1 – This 4th PGA Tour title for Rickie Fowler has lifted him back into the top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. It was his first win on the circuit since the Deutsche Bank Championship of 2015.
"I guess I can already plan on Hawaii for next year," Fowler said, with reference to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. "I can relax a little bit. This just lets us chill out in a way. There's less pressure, less stress. I think this is something we needed going into Augusta. I like this spot we're in right now."
2 – At 28 years old, Fowler considers himself one of the older members of the PGA Tour’s most recent youth movement. Of the 15 events held this season, 11 have been won by players in their 20s. 28 is the average age of winners on Tour so far this season.
“The game is in a great spot,” said Fowler. “It’s motivating to see my friends win.”
Rickie Fowler swing sequence:
3 – Playing in the final group with Fowler, England’s Tyrrell Hatton proved his class by finishing in a tie for fourth. He’s up to 17th on the Official World Golf Ranking and he now has three top-four finishes in his last four starts around the world. Hatton is one of six players from GB&NI in the top-20 on the Official World Golf Ranking, the others are: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Danny Willett, Paul Casey and Russell Knox.
The Honda Classic PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Feb 23-26 Purse $6,400,000, par 70
1 Rickie Fowler (USA) 66 66 65 71 268 $1,152,000 T2 Morgan Hoffman (USA) 68 67 69 68 272 $563,200 T2 Gary Woodland (USA) 71 66 66 69 272 $563,200 T4 Wesley Bryan (USA) 64 67 72 70 273 $232,000 T4 Chad Collins (USA) 70 67 67 69 273 $232,000 T4 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) 68 67 66 72 273 $232,000 T4 Billy Horschel (USA) 70 68 67 68 273 $232,000 T4 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 65 70 68 70 273 $232,000 T4 Jhonattan Vegas (Ven) 67 73 69 64 273 $232,000 10 Graham DeLaet (Can) 66 68 70 70 274 $172,800
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage
Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.
He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.
Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?
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