Hideki Matsuyama seals playoff win over Rickie Fowler at Waste Management Phoenix Open
When the last PGA Tour season ended, there was plenty of talk about golf’s new “Big Three.” Rickie Fowler quickly turned it into a foursome with his stellar play at the start of this season, but he was reduced to tears after letting victory slip away on Super Bowl Sunday.
Two weeks after winning against a star-studded field in Abu Dhabi, Fowler lost to Hideki Matsuyama on the fourth hole of playoff in the Waste Management Phoenix Open after having a win firmly in his grasp at TPC Scottsdale.
“This is going to hurt because I felt like I had it, especially the way I was swinging,” said Fowler, who was gunning for his fifth worldwide win in nine months and his fourth PGA Tour title.
RELATED: Waste Management Phoenix Open special section | Sunday's photos | Fans at the Phoenix Open | Leaderboard
What made this one especially painful is that Fowler lost a two-shot lead with two holes to play as his entire family watched, including his father and grandfather, who had not seen him win a pro title. He also had many friends on hand to conclude a week that saw the event draw record attendance of 618,365.
“I mean, the hard part is having, you know, all my friends and family and grandpa, who haven’t seen me win,” Fowler said, as the tears began to flow. “But I will be able to kind of hang out with them tonight, so I’ll be all right.”
Fowler’s lips quivered and he began sobbing at the end of that statement, which quickly ended his interview session.
At No. 4 in the world, Fowler was the highest-ranked player in this field and has joined Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day in the conversation as golf’s new Big Four.
He also is wildly popular with Valley fans, and had their full support as he cruised along with a two-shot lead heading to the 17th, a 332-yard par 4 that played as the easiest hole of the day and third-easiest of the week.
Fowler hit a driver from the tee that ran through the green and into the water behind it. From there, he made a bogey and Matsuyama birdied. Both birdied the 18th, leaving them in a tie that led to the playoff. Matsuyama called his 18-foot birdie “probably the best putt I’ve hit in my life.”
Both golfers also birdied the 18th as the first playoff hole. Returning to the 18th tee for a third time, both made pars and also parred the 10th, then came again to the fateful 17th. This time, Fowler hit a 3-wood from the tee but again found the water hazard, leading to a bogey. Matsuyama’s tap-in par sealed his second PGA Tour victory.
The previous two years, he had tied for fourth and second in this event.
Bickley: Golf needs more fun, less quiet
“I’m really happy that I won, surprised and sad that Rickie finished that way, but all I can do is my best, and I was lucky to come out on top,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter.
“I played well all day long and so it just carried over into the playoff hole, and I’m happy that it did. It was a blast playing in front of all these people. I’d say 99 percent were cheering hard for Rickie, but really, honestly, it was a dream come true.”
The 17th hole doesn’t get the attention of its rowdy par-3 neighbor but it often has figured prominently in the outcome of this event, which is defined by its risk-reward finishing stretch.
Fowler unleashed several long drives during the week, but said he was stunned that his shot in regulation traveled 356 yards before reaching the water.
“Both my caddie and I thought it would be the perfect shot to hit a little cut driver,” he said. “I hit it perfectly but got kind of bad break when it landed on the downslope. That kind of ruined the game plan coming in.”
Boivin: Emotional Bubba Watson says he'll return to Phoenix Open
Matsuyama said later that he was surprised to see Fowler’s drive reach the water, adding, “It was a great shot but the outcome wasn’t what I expected, and I’m sure Rickie, too.”
Danny Lee began the round with a three-shot lead but bogeyed the second and third holes, falling into a tie with Fowler and Matsuyama. When they made the turn, Harris English also had joined the group with each at 11-under.
But English and Lee each played the back nine in 1-under 35, while Fowler and Matsuyama each shot 33.
English finished third, two shots behind. Lee ended up three shots back and Boo Weekley was four behind. Local favorite Phil Mickelson failed to mount a charge, shooting par-71 and tied for 11th, six shots back.
“After the 15th hole, it didn’t look very good,” Matsuyama said. “Then Rickie opened the door for me, and I was able to walk through it. It feels really good.
“Winning my second tournament on the PGA Tour was my utmost goal for this year, so now I’m going to go home tonight and rethink my next goal.”
