JUST WHEN IT LOOKED AS IF RICKIE FOWLER was poised for another victory, he stumbled on the way to the trophy ceremony at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
A bold player and closer, Fowler coughed up a two-stroke lead on the last two holes of regulation and was edged by Hideki Matsuyama in a sudden-death playoff that went four holes. It was the second PGA Tour title for the 23-year-old Japanese player, who has the look of a rising star.
“Rickie opened the door for me,” Matsuyama said, “and I was able to walk through it.”
“The hard part is having all my friends and family and grandpa and my dad who haven’t seen me win,” an emotional Fowler told the media.
Matsuyama added: “Surprised and sad that Rickie finished that way, but all I can do is my best. I was lucky to come out on top.”
Next up is the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.