Rickie Fowler wins WMPO by two

By
Mo Yoshimoto,

By
Mo Yoshimoto

Published February 4, 2019 12:16 PM

WM Phoenix Open

Scottsdale, Arizona

On a chilly, drizzly, and otherwise dreary day, World No. 14 Rickie Fowler, the overnight leader by four, concocted a 3-over-par 37-37=74 in Sunday’s final round at TPC Scottsdale for a 72-hole tally of 17-under 267, good for a two-shot win over runner-up Branden Grace, who shot 69 out of the penultimate threesome, three better than 3^rd-place finisher and playing competitor Justin Thomas (72).

The 30-year-old, who led or co-led after each of the first three rounds and was a pre-tourney 18/1 outright, bags his fifth PGA TOUR title in 220 events (215 pro), first since The Honda Classic in February, 2017, also as the 54-hole leader by four.

The Honda win, 41 starts and three weeks shy of two years ago, came as a 16/1 outright and also included an over-par effort in the finale. That victory, as well as this one, featured big numbers in R4 and minus Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green stats, but both victories were saved by the flat stick.

R4 Summaries of Fowler’s Last Two Wins:

2017 Honda (R4):

SG: Tee-to-Green: -2.086

SG: Putting: 2.929

2019 WMPO (R4):

SG: Tee-to-Green: -5.744

SG: Putting: 3.319

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Final Leaderboard (pre-tourney odds outright):

1- (-17, 267) Rickie Fowler (18/1)

2- (-15, 269) Branden Grace (90/1)

3- (-14, 270) Justin Thomas (9/1)

4- (-12, 272) Chez Reavie (50/1)

4- (-12, 272) Bubba Watson (45/1)

4- (-12, 272) Matt Kuchar (28/1)

Notes:

Repeat top-10 finishers from last year: Chez Reavie (T4-P2); Matt Kuchar (T4-T5-T9); Gary Woodland (T7-P1).
Grace is the second, 90/1 runner-up in as many weeks and the second straight making their tourney debuts, joining Adam Scott at last week’s Farmers.

FUN FACT: Since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Fowler was the 19^th player to amass a four-shot lead or greater through 54 holes and the 16^th to convert, fifth straight. Of the 16 winners, however, only three shot over-par in R4 and still won: Webb Simpson, at the 2018 PLAYERS, who led by seven, shot 1-over 73 and won by four, and Fowler, now two times.

The similarities of Simpson’s and Fowler’s wins in Florida were: they both came on tracks – TPC Sawgrass and PGA National (Champion) – where it’s difficult to overcome large deficits over the final 18 holes.

This time, the weather, which included intermittent downpours, wreaked havoc, muting the chasing packs chances of catching a struggling Fowler. He ate double bogey-6 at 5 and a bizzaro triple bogey-7 at 11, losing 2.425 strokes against the field, but those closest to him beginning the day, Thomas and playing competitor Matt Kuchar (75), struggled as well.

Runner-up Grace, who began the day eight shots back and with no pressure on him, tied Fowler with birdie-2 at 12 and took a one-shot lead after birdie-4 at 13. As soon as he got that lead, however, he played his final five holes in birdie-less 1-over, including a 5 (tee ball in the water) at the drivable par-4 17^th.

Post-tourney Presser:

“Yeah, I don’t know if you were watching, but I hope I never have to go through that again. The way I was playing this week (opened with 64-65-64), I mean, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I thought it was going to be a lot easier than that out there today.”

The California native began with a four-shot lead and led by four at the break. Went up five (over Grace), lost that in the span of two holes, then, trailed by one thru 13 before righting the ship to win by two.

“It wasn’t really fun there for a couple of holes. I mean, to have what happened on 5 (shanked second, penalty) and 11 (two penalties, one without hitting a shot), and kind of just rolled with the punches. Other than that, it was a pretty good round of golf, considering the conditions. And to step up after that, I feel like I played the last five holes pretty well (last six holes bogey-free 2-under), so yeah, just had to find a way to get it done. It wasn’t very fun. It will be fun now.”

This was Fowler’s 11^th consecutive Phoenix Open, sixth top 25 and fourth top 10, eclipsing a pair of runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2016. He was the 36- and 54-hole leader last year as well, before finishing T11, and is just the second player in the 81-year history of the tourney to hold consecutive 54-hole leads, joining Johnny Miller in 1974 (won) and 1975 (won).

Season Form: 1-66-16-4

WMPO Form: 1-11-4-P2-46-MC-MC-26-13-2-58

Note: Previous best this season: T4 at the Shriners, in the Las Vegas desert.

With a Strength of Field rating of 427 (down 50 from last year), Fowler banks 56 world-ranking points and moves six places to 8^th in the Official World Golf Ranking, and jumps 58 spots to 7^th in the FedExCup standings.

At last week’s Farmers, he debuted a new ball – TaylorMade’s TP5x – and finished an understandable though uninspiring T66 (73-66-74-74).

WEIRD FACT: Last week’s Farmers winner, Justin Rose, won in his second start with new sticks (no ball change). This week, Fowler won in his second start with a new ball (no club changes).

Fowler’s Position by Round:

R1: T1

R2: 1 (leader by 1)

R3: 1 (leader by 4)

FUN FACT: Fowler is the first player to convert a 54-hole lead at the WMPO since Phil Mickelson in 2013. He’s also the first player to convert the 36-hole lead since Mickelson in 2013.

WEIRD FACT: Fowler was grouped with Mickelson the first two rounds in 2013.

NOT SO FUN FACT: On seven occasions when holding the 54-hole lead, Fowler has not shot a round of par or better and is a cumulative 16-over-par in those instances. His scoring average is a not-so-tasty 73.29.

How Fowler Won the Tournament:

Ranked 1^st (or T1) in: SG: Putting, Total Birdies, Birdie or Better %, Birdie to Bogey Ratio, Par-4 Scoring

Ranked 2^nd (or T2) in: Total Driving, Total Bogeys

Note: See “Leaders in Strokes Gained Stats” at the bottom, along with Fowler’s full stats

Field Scoring Average:

This was the 81^st playing of the WMPO, 35^th consecutive at TPC Scottsdale:

7,261 yards; par 71 (35-36)

R1: 70.39

R2: 70.62

R3: 69.48

R4: 71.58

Total: 70.51

Fowler: 64-65-64-74

SG: Total: 15.059

Draw:

A total of 73 players (72 pros, 1 amateur) from a field of 131 pros and 1 amateur made the 36-hole cut of 1-under 141:

40 (of 66) EARLY/late

33 (of 65) LATE/early; 1 WD (Peter Uihlein)

14 players finished in the top 10:

EARLY/late (8):

Rickie Fowler (Won); Justin Thomas (3^rd); Chez Reavie (T4); Matt Kuchar (T4); Chris Stroud (T7); Sungjae Im (T7); Jhonattan Vegas (T10); Russell Knox (T10)

LATE/early (6):

Branden Grace (2^nd); Bubba Watson (T4); Gary Woodland (T7); Xander Schauffele (68); Jon Rahm (T10); Harold Varner III (T10)

6 (of 13) tourneys so far this season with a traditional draw:

Winners:

EARLY/late: 4 (Fowler)

LATE/early: 2

Leaderboard Notes:

Grace (67-64-69-69)

Season Form: 2-MC-41-48-50

WMPO Form: 2 (debut)

FEC Rank: 31^st (up 138)

OWGR: 40^th (up 13)

Career Starts: 104

Top 10s: 15 (14.4%)

Top 3s: 4

Runners-up: 1

Thomas (64-66-68-72):

Season Form: 3-16-3-36-5

WMPO Form: 3-17-MC-MC-17

FEC Rank: 12^th (up 10)

OWGR: 4^th (unchanged)

Career Starts: 122

Top 10s: 40 (32.7%)

Top 3s: 17 (second this season: 3^rd, Sentry TOC)

Reavie (71-69-64-68):

Season Form: 4-28-3-26-35-7-43-33

WMPO Form: 4-P2-MC-MC-MC-45-41-MC

FEC Rank: 16^th (up 9)

OWGR: 49^th (up 7)

Career Starts: 265

Top-10 Finishes: 20 (7.5%)

Watson (66-67-68-71)

Season Form: 4-MC-31

WMPO Form: 4-40-MC-14-2-2-15-5-29-36

FEC Rank: 82^nd (up 92)

OWGR: 16^th (up 2)

Career Starts: 300

Top-10 Finishes: 63 (21.0%)

Kuchar (67-65-65-75)

Season Form: 4-1-19-1-57

WMPO Form: 4-5-9-30-33-43

FEC Rank: 2^nd (unchanged)

OWGR: 20^th (up 3)

Career Starts: 431

Top-10 Finishes: 101 (23.2%)

Fowler’s Career:

Starts: 220 (215 pro)

Cuts Made: 175 (79.5%)

Top 25s: 110 (50.0%)

Top 10s: 66 (30.0%)

Top 3s: 25 (11.3%)

Wins: 5 (2.2%)

5 wins:

2019: WMPO (54-hole leader by 4)

Shot: 3-over-74

Winning Margin: 2 shots

Career Start: 220 (215 pro)

Starts Between Wins: 41

Event Type: Full Field

2017: Honda Classic (54-hole leader by 4)

Shot: 1-over 71

Winning Margin: 4 shots

Career Start: 179

Starts Between Wins: 29

Event Type: Full Field

2015: Deutsche Bank Champ (come-from-behind, 1-shot deficit)

Shot: 3-under 68

Winning Margin: 1 shot

Career Start: 150

Starts Between Wins: 8

Event Type: FEC Playoffs

2015: THE PLAYERS (come-from-behind, 3-shot deficit)

Shot: 5-under 67

Winning Margin: PLAYOFF (3-man, 3-hole aggregate)

Career Start: 142

Starts Between Wins: 70

Event Type: Full Field

2012: Wells Fargo Champ (come-from-behind, 3-shot deficit)

Shot: 3-under 69

Winning Margin: PLAYOFF (3-man)

Career Start: 72 (67 pro); 3^rd season on TOUR

Event Type: Full Field

Wins by Season:

2019: 1

2018: 0

2017: 1

2016: 0

2015: 2

2014: 0

2013: 0

2012: 1 (3^rd season)

2011: 0

2010: 0

Low Rounds:

R1: 64: Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Harold Varner III

R2: 64: Branden Grace, Trey Mullinax

R3: 64: Rickie Fowler, Chez Reavie

R4: 67: Billy Horschel

Bogey-free Rounds:

R1: (10): Justin Thomas (64); Rickie Fowler (64); J.T. Poston (65); Bubba Watson (66); Scott Piercy (66); Charley Hoffman (66); Andrew Landry (67); Xander Schauffele (67); Ollie Schniederjans (67); Adam Schenk (70)

R2: (5): Denny McCarthy (65)*; Brandon Harkins (66); Kevin Streelman (67); Carlos Ortiz (68); J.J. Spaun (69)

R3: (9): Chez Reavie (64); Matt Kuchar (65); Jason Kokrak (65); Jhonattan Vegas (66); Jimmy Walker (66); Sungjae Im (67); John Catlin (68); Ollie Schniederjans (69); Martin Laird (70)

R4: (3): Chez Reavie (68); Xander Schauffele (68); Russell Knox (68)

Note: Denny McCarthy originally signed for 4-under 67 in R2. Incurred 2-shot penalty at the par-5 15^th for violation of Rule 10.2b(4) – caddie-aided alignment on fourth shot – en route to double bogey-7 (his only blemish in R2). The next day (Saturday), the PGA TOUR, after consultation with the USGA and R&A, rescinded the penalty. After his score was updated, McCarthy shot bogey-free, 7-under 65 in R2.

Multiple Bogey-free Rounds (3 players):

Reavie, Schauffele, Schniederjans (x2)

Note: Reavie had two blemish-free laps last year as well (finished P2)

Leader/co-leaders by Round:

R1: Justin Thomas (finished 3^rd): 3-for-5 as 18-hole leader/co-leader

R1: Rickie Fowler (Won): 1-for-6

R1: Harold Varner III (T10): 0-for-1

R2: Rickie Fowler (Won): 1-for-9 as 36-hole leader/co-leader

R3: Rickie Fowler (Won): 2-for-7 as 54-hole leader/co-leader

Note: This was Fowler’s first 54-hole lead/co-lead since here last year, where he led by one and shot 2-over 73 for T11

2 players with consecutive 54-hole leads at WMPO:

Johnny Miller: 1974 (Won); 1975 (Won)

Rickie Fowler: 2018 (T11); 2019 (Won)

FUN FACT: As mentioned, Fowler was the 19^th player in the last three seasons with a 4-shot lead (or greater) and the 16^th to go on to win. Conversion: 84.20%.

He’s also the sixth consecutive. Last to fail: Paul Casey, 2018 Travelers; led by 4; shot 2-over 72; finished T2, three back of winner Bubba Watson, who came from 6 back w/ 7-under 65.

Fowler’s Key Moments on Sunday:

Began: Fowler by 4 over playing competitor Kuchar.

Par-5 third: errant (shanked second) into penalty area. Hit fourth from cart path. SAVED PAR from 30’6”. Kuchar 3-jacked for par, missed birdie from 5’11”. Fowler by 4 (over Kuchar)

Par-4 fifth: sloppy 1-putt double bogey-6 (from 4’6”). Kuchar (and Thomas) both bogeyed, however. Fowler by 3 (over Kuchar)

Par-4 ninth: 2-putt par. Thomas bunker-to-bunker, skulled over the green, pitched on, missed bogey from 13’0”, DOUBLE. Kuchar missed par-saver from 5’7”. Fowler by 4 (over Kuchar and Grace, who’s 1-under thru 9, one group ahead)

OUT:

Fowler: 2-over 37 (1 double)

Grace: 1-under 35 (2 birdies, 1 bogey)

Kuchar: 2-over 37 (2 bogeys)

Par-4 10^th: birdie from 6’4”. Kuchar missed par-saver from 8’4”, bogey. Fowler by 5 (over Grace)

Par-4 11^th: right rough off the tee. 34 yards short with his second (fairway). Pitched 49 yards over the green, down the embankment and into the water (penalty). Dropped twice, placed the ball, then, while up looking at the green, the ball rolled back into the water (penalty). Dropped twice, placed, pitched on and MADE from 16’11” for triple. While this was going on, Grace birdies the 12^th (from 50’1”). Fowler by 1 (over Grace)

Par-3 12^th: missed green, missed par-saver from 19’4”. Tied with Grace

GRACE:

Par-5 13^th: birdie-4. Grace leads Fowler by 1

FOWLER:

Par-5 13^th: par-saver from 5’11”. Kuchar makes only birdie from 8’5”. Grace leads Fowler by 1, Kuchar by 2

Par-5 15^th: 2-putt birdie. Ties Grace. Kuchar second into the water, missed par-saver from 10’3”. Kuchar is out of it.

GRACE:

Par-4 17^th: drivable; hits tee ball in the water (penalty). Pitches over the green into the bunker and takes bogey. Fowler by 1

FOWLER:

Par-4 17^th: 2-putt birdie, including 8’10” come-backer. Fowler by 2. GAME, SET, MATCH

TOUR Rookies &/or First-Timers:

Rookies: 5

Top-10 finishes: 1

Sungjae Im: The 2018 Player and Rookie of the Year on the Web.com was the only one to finish in the top 60. He took top-rookie honors with T7 on 11-under 273 (69-68-67-69).

Season Form: 7-52-12-16-37-MC-15-MC-41-4

WMPO Form: DEBUT

Starts: 10

Made Cuts: 8

Times Low Rookie: 5

Top 25s: 5

Top 10s: 2 (T4, Safeway)

FEC Rank: 25^th (up 9)

OWGR: 82^nd (up 10); career high

First-Timers: 28

Top-10 finishes: 2

Grace and Im