Watch: Rickie Fowler Makes Super Ace on Sunday at TPC Scottsdale
It may not have happened at the famed 16th hole Coliseum, but Rickie Fowler’s ace during the WM Phoenix Open’s final round was just as thrilling. It happened on the challenging 216-yard 7th hole, which has an average score of 3.171 for the tournament.
Fowler launched a 6-iron directly at the flagstick at the tricky, long par 3. The ball took two hops and rolled right into the cup with perfect pace. The crowd went wild for Fowler, a longtime fan favorite and former champion in Phoenix.
Wearing his signature Sunday orange, Fowler immediately received high-fives from his caddie Ricky Romano and his playing partners, Sungjae Im and Jason Day.
The hole in one propelled Fowler into a tie for fifth place. The two-shot swing helped the five-time PGA Tour winner climb to 11 under par, four shots back of leader and defending champion Scottie Scheffler.
The ace is Fowler’s third on the PGA Tour. His last professional victory came at this very event in 2019, but Fowler has struggled with his game since and has yet to reenter the winner’s circle.
“It's really nice to be back in a similar territory,” Fowler said after Saturday’s round. “Really the last few years haven't been in this position a whole lot.”
In a recent Q&A with Sports Illustrated, Fowler explained the recent swing changes he has implemented with the help of Butch Harmon. He reunited with the renowned swing coach in the fall, and the switch has seemingly worked wonders for Fowler. In his last six starts, the Oklahoma State product has posted three top-15 finishes, included a tie for runner-up at the Zozo Championship in October.