Fowler overcomes strange triple bogey to win Phoenix Open
Standing above a greenside bunker at TPC Scottsdale’s GLI¿FXOW SDU WK KROH 5LFN\ )RZOHU turned just in time to see his ball, one he had just placed after penalty, trickle into the water.
Fowler had already seen his share of bad luck at the Phoenix Open. Now balls were rolling into hazards on their own.
Unable to catch a break, Fowler took it upon himself to create his own.
Fowler shook off a bizarre triple bogey on No. 11 with clutch shots down the VWUHWFK ¿QDOO\ ZLQQLQJ WKH WRXUQDPHQW Sunday that had twice eluded him.
“I didn’t think it would be easy, but the way I was playing this week, I thought it would have been easier,” Fowler said. “It was kind of grind it out. I had a couple of tough breaks and had to deal with the punches — a couple big ones — but it feels good now.”
After a pair of 64s and a 65, Fowler VKRW RYHU LQ WKH ¿QDO URXQG RQ D soggy Sunday at TPC Scottsdale, highest by a winner in tournament history. He ¿QLVKHG DW XQGHU WR EHDW %UDQGHQ *UDFH E\ WZR VKRWV IRU KLV ¿IWK 3*$ Tour title.
Fowler had another over-par round with a 54-hole lead — he’s 7 for 7 there ² EXW ELUGLHG WZR RI KLV ¿QDO IRXU KROHV to win from the third-round lead for the second time, with the 2017 Honda Classic the other.
Fowler also had a double bogey on the SDU ¿IWK KROH EHFRPLQJ WKH ¿UVW 3*$ Tour player to win with a double bogey and triple bogey or worse since 1983.
“He really dug down and pulled it off,” Grace said.
Fowler has experienced his share of heartbreak at the Phoenix Open. He had the 54-hole lead last year and shot D RYHU WR ¿QLVK VL[ VKRWV EHKLQG Gary Woodlandr. In 2016, Fowler blew a two-shot lead with two holes to go before losing in a playoff to Hideki Matsuyama, twice hitting it into the water on the drivable par-4 17th.
None of it compared to what happened to him Sunday.
Leading by four to start the day, he was XS ¿YH VKRWV VWHSSLQJ RQWR WKH WHH RQ No. 11. The lead was one after a bizarre sequence of events at the long par 4.