By Jay Betsill
In what will likely be the strongest field of the season on the European Tour, Rickie Fowler came away the victor and improved to No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
This is Fowler’s fourth win worldwide in the past year, following victories at The Players Championship, the Scottish Open, and the Deutsche Bank Championship.
The field included No. 1 Jordan Spieth, No. 3 Rory McIlroy and No. 5 Henrik Stenson.
“Nice to have the game where it’s at right now going into the season, instead of trying to work on things,” Fowler said. “I’d say this is really the first time in my career I’ve had that.”
Fowler followed a double bogey on No. 7 with a chip-in eagle on No. 8 and chipped in on No. 17 to win the tournament by one shot.
“The ultimate goal this year is to go win a major and this is a step in the right direction for sure,” Fowler said.
Next up for Fowler is the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines this week on the PGA Tour.
McIlroy and Stenson each finished at -14, two shots behind Fowler.
Spieth, who played his final 36 holes in 8 under par to finish at -11 in a tie for fifth, will compete in this week’s SingaporeOpen on the Asian Tour.
