Rickie Fowler was pleased with his display at Quail Hollow, after adding another close run at a Major to his career stats, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
The world No 10 got himself into the mix on Sunday with four straight birdies, but ultimately left himself too much to do after dropping four shots in the final three holes during round three.
‘I knew I still had a shot out here today,’ said Fowler after his final round 67.
‘I knew it was going to be tough. I knew I needed to get off to a good start on the front nine. You never know. It wasn’t like there were a bunch of guys up there. With this golf course, especially the finish, anything can happen. I knew I was going to have to post a pretty good round to have a chance, especially with it playing softer over the weekend.
‘It was a little unfortunate yesterday, the two 3-putts when I have been putting great all week, all year. And then 8-iron on 17, where we didn’t think water was in play – I don’t know if the breeze picked up a bit or what, so it’s not like I made a bad swing or anything. Just right on my line and maybe it was holding up into the wind too much.’
Fowler gave himself a ‘pretty good’ rating at this year’s Majors – his best performances since finishing in the top five of all four back in 2014. He was in the penultimate group at The Masters and led after 36 holes at the US Open, but his wait for Major glory continues.
‘Pretty good. I mean, I put myself in contention in the first two. It wasn’t a great British, but not bad.
‘To be here, play solid the first two days and put myself in contention, that was really in the mix until those last three yesterday. Obviously I wasn’t out of it, but it was going to take a really good round today to give ourselves a chance.’
A lock for the Presidents Cup later in the year, Fowler will now turn his attention the FedExCup playoffs as he sits fifth behind Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson.
Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
