Rickie Fowler's comeback bid at Quicken Loans National falls just short

BETHESDA, Md. — Throughout the Quicken Loans National, all eyes were on Rickie Fowler.

Other players would finish ahead of Fowler, who tied for third. That didn’t matter to the sea of neon golf shirts who migrated around the course all week, solely there to see the No. 9-ranked golfer in the world and the highest ranked in the field.

But during his press conference after the final round, it was Fowler who was watching other players. While fielding questions about his 5-under-par 65, his eyes occasionally jumped up to a TV showing other players who were still golfing.

“I still would like to be on the golf course now with those guys and battling it out,” he said. “Still, to put up nine birdies, offense is good.”

Fowler would finish the tournament tied for third with Martin Laird, after tallying nine birdies on Sunday, the most he’s ever made in a round on the PGA Tour. At 5-under par, he was just two strokes behind Kyle Stanley and Charles Howell III, who would head to a one-hole playoff, with Stanley coming out on top.

Fowler entered the final round tied for 18th, but carded seven birdies on nine holes to kickstart a comeback.

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“It was kind of fun to feel the confidence in the fairway, or even if I was in the rough, just get it on the green within a reasonable distance, and felt good with the putter as well to roll them in,” the Quicken Loans player ambassador said.

However, after driving into a water hazard, he double-bogeyed the par-4 14th, the statistically easiest hole on the course.

“A couple bad swings cost me a few shots, but a good weekend overall,” he said. “Nice to sneak up there and get a good round today. Solid, good finish after not being in great position after the first two days.”

Fowler’s weekend had gotten progressively better, as his final round of the tournament was also his best.

It was Fowler’s first time playing at TPC Potomac, and in Thursday’s first round, he finished the day even at 70. On Friday, he shot a 2-over-par 72, as he bogeyed twice and otherwise simply rattled off pars, ending the day tied for 37th.

Round 3 was the first day Fowler finished under par, as his 2-under 68 brought him back to even overall. After the round, he seemed to have some premonition of what was to come in his final outing.

“I feel like I've got a low one in me out here, get ourselves back into a decent position to at least give it a run tomorrow and see what we can do and salvage at least a solid finish out of it,” he said Saturday.

Fowler had more than just a feeling, he had a number.

“My goal was to go out and shoot 62, which if I birdie 14 and close the way I did, that was the number I had in mind, which I knew was possible,” he said.

The double-bogey on 14 would slow his momentum. While Fowler would birdie twice more, it still was not enough to catapult all the way to first. Still, he was pleased to jump back onto the leaderboard.

“It's hard to give yourself those opportunities or put yourself in that position that many times and to convert it,” he said. “I like making birdies and I feel like when I get going, I can continue to make them.”

The pattern of birdies bodes well for Fowler. He’ll play next at the Scottish Open, where he won in 2015 thanks to a birdie on the 72nd hole. He’ll then stay across the pond, as he tees off in the British Open the following week.

“I've been playing well,” he said. “I feel like I played well all year, getting the win at Honda and getting myself in contention at both majors and continuing to have good finishes.”

And so as fans continue to watch Fowler, he’ll turn his gaze again, this time looking ahead to Europe.