Earlier than this week in Japan, Rickie Fowler’s greatest end of the 2024 season got here three weeks in the past on the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi, the place he tied for sixteenth.
It has been a wrestle for Fowler, who received for the primary time in 4 years ultimately yr’s Rocket Mortgage Basic. However he has been trending in the proper route through the FedEx Cup Fall in October. After his robust end in Jackson—his first begin since a solo 71st at The Open in July—Fowler tied for twenty third on the Shriners Youngsters’s Open in Las Vegas.
Then, he flew throughout the Pacific Ocean to Japan for this week’s ZOZO Championship; fortunately, his type traveled with him. Fowler posted a solo fourth-place end in Japan this week, his greatest end of the season. In doing so, he retains a 16-year streak alive. Fowler has posted at the very least one prime 10 on tour yearly courting again to 2009.
His last spherical 64, through which he had six birdies and no bogies, soared him up the leaderboard.
“It was a very good, strong day. I used to be clearly making an attempt to get extra. We had some dinner with our associates in Narita final evening, and we set the purpose at [9-under], so I fell a little bit bit brief,” Fowler mentioned.
“Nonetheless a very good strong day. Yeah, enthusiastic about the way in which I’ve been capable of play the few occasions that I’ve performed this fall. Not essentially having my greatest, however being plenty of positives. It’s good to have a very good end, particularly right here in Japan, in entrance of some enjoyable followers.”
Fowler credited his robust last spherical to improved iron play, which has been a sore spot for him this season. He ranks 129th on tour in strokes gained strategy, though nothing has gone his means total. Fowler is 147th in whole strokes gained and 164th in scoring common, proof that 2024 has not been his yr.
But he’ll depart the Far East on Monday morning with loads of confidence as he vaulted as much as 92nd within the FedEx Cup Fall rankings. He nonetheless has a protracted solution to go to crack the highest 60 and qualify for subsequent yr’s Signature Occasions, however Fowler lastly had one thing go his means this week. That alone is trigger for a minor celebration.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
