This article is part of our Weekly PGA Recap series.
It was about as good as NBC could've hoped for on Super Sunday: Rickie Fowler was nearing another impressive victory, keeping at least some viewers from switching over to the Super Bowl pregame show on CBS. With Johnny Miller joined by David Feherty making his Peacock debut, the network had the hottest golfer going atop the leaderboard while the telecast was neatly headed toward an on-time finish a half-hour before kickoff.
And then, with Fowler holding a two-stroke lead with two holes to play at the Phoenix Open, everything did a 180 -- for Fowler and NBC. The high-top-wearing, jogger-sporting Fowler sent his drive on the drivable par-4 17th skidding past the green and into the water some 360 yards away.
It opened the door for Hideki Matsuyama, and triggered a long but riveting playoff that bled well into the first quarter of the Super Bowl. The NBC viewers who stayed around, however many there were, saw Matsuyama stun Fowler on the fourth playoff hole for his second career victory.
Fowler was bidding for his fifth worldwide win in nine months, a surge that has catapulted him to No. 4 in the OWGR. He came to the 317-yard penultimate hole with that win all but a formality. But while Fowler was airmailing the pin, playing partner Matsuyama was smartly laying up. That led to a bogey for Fowler, a birdie for Matsuyama and that two-stroke lead suddenly was nil.
Both golfers parred the 18th, sending them to a playoff. They
It was about as good as NBC could've hoped for on Super Sunday: Rickie Fowler was nearing another impressive victory, keeping at least some viewers from switching over to the Super Bowl pregame show on CBS. With Johnny Miller joined by David Feherty making his Peacock debut, the network had the hottest golfer going atop the leaderboard while the telecast was neatly headed toward an on-time finish a half-hour before kickoff.
And then, with Fowler holding a two-stroke lead with two holes to play at the Phoenix Open, everything did a 180 -- for Fowler and NBC. The high-top-wearing, jogger-sporting Fowler sent his drive on the drivable par-4 17th skidding past the green and into the water some 360 yards away.
It opened the door for Hideki Matsuyama, and triggered a long but riveting playoff that bled well into the first quarter of the Super Bowl. The NBC viewers who stayed around, however many there were, saw Matsuyama stun Fowler on the fourth playoff hole for his second career victory.
Fowler was bidding for his fifth worldwide win in nine months, a surge that has catapulted him to No. 4 in the OWGR. He came to the 317-yard penultimate hole with that win all but a formality. But while Fowler was airmailing the pin, playing partner Matsuyama was smartly laying up. That led to a bogey for Fowler, a birdie for Matsuyama and that two-stroke lead suddenly was nil.
Both golfers parred the 18th, sending them to a playoff. They traded big-time putts in playing 18 twice more and then the 10th before returning to 17. Remarkably, Fowler again rinsed his drive, albeit this time with a 3-wood that went wide of the hole instead of long.
A par won it for Matsuyama, depriving Fowler of the chance to move closer to world No. 3 Jason Day. It was the Japanese's second PGA Tour win, following the 2014 Memorial.
Fowler was moved to tears afterward, desperately wanting to win before his father, grandfather and other family and friends who had never seen him win in person. But, of course, there's no shame in losing to Matsuyama, who remarkably is three years younger than the 27-year-old Fowler and will move to a career-best No. 12 in the world.
It was just two weeks ago that Fowler bested Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy in Abu Dhabi, and it's become quite clear he is now at their level -- you know, except for that lack of a major victory thing. It surely would surprise no one if it came this year. Matsuyama isn't at that echelon yet, but, likewise, would it surprise anyone if the best player ever out of Japan broke through in 2016?
Neither golfer will be on hand this week at Pebble Beach, but we're just three weeks away from the first big tournament of the year, the WGC-Cadillac Championship beginning March 3. All the top names will be in attendance, and there seemingly are more than ever. There could be 15 or so golfers capable of winning at Doral, and what riveting theater that should be.
And for NBC, most of its audience will stick around for the finish.
MONDAY TAKEAWAY
Harris English
English won his first tournament in 2013, his second a year later, and many thought this former Georgia Bulldog was headed for greatness. But there have been few such indicators since then. English had even fallen out of the top 100 before a solo third in Phoenix, his best showing in more than a year. Finishing a stroke shy of the playoff moved English to No. 79 in the world, but he hasn't been in the top 50 in a year and a half. As good as English played on Sunday, this was likely more of an aberration that a turning point.
Danny Lee
Lee had been struggling all season, with his only top-25 coming in the limited Hyundai field. So gamers had to be encouraged when he took a three-stroke lead into Sunday. But Lee wound up a third wheel in the Fowler/Matsuyama final group, shooting by far the worst score among the leaders, a 2-over-73, that left him solo fourth.
Webb Simpson
Simpson was among the most prominent golfers affected by the anchored-putting ban, and despite being 161st in strokes gained putting this season, the former major champion turned in his third straight top-20 with a T14 at Phoenix. Simpson putted decently at TPC Scottsdale, but his string of success goes to the strength of the rest of his game. Without superior putting, really high finishes likely will continue to elude Simpson.
Robert Streb
A year ago at this time, Streb was atop the point standings with a win and four other top-10s. But he's had none in seven starts this season, including a T37 at Phoenix. Really, no part of Streb's game is working particularly well, as he is 96th in strokes gained-tee to green, 108th in strokes gained-total and 159 in strokes gained-putting. All of that adds up to trouble for Streb's owners.
Steve Stricker
Stricker has decided to play a bit more this season, at least in part to try to qualify for the Masters. So far, not so good. Stricker missed the cut at Phoenix, his second straight MC following a T64 at the Sony. Maybe it's a case of not enough reps, but maybe it's something else for Stricker, who turns 49 in two weeks. In the meantime, Stricker will play again this week, at Pebble Beach, where he hasn't played in 10 years.
Russell Henley
Henley ended 2015 with two top-10s. He's begun 2016 with a T49 and two missed cuts, including Phoenix. He's 17th in strokes gained-putting while fifth in total driving, so it's a bit mysterious what is plaguing his game. Whatever it is, Henley is a big question mark for gamers now.
Tony Finau
Very often, following an impressive rookie season, a golfer takes a step back. We may be seeing that with Finau. He's gone T64-MC-T18-MC so far in 2016. Remarkably, Finau is not in the top 200 in driving accuracy, not in the top 100 in strokes gained putting. Until he straightens himself, and his drives, out, there's little reason to turn to Finau unless you have to.
Danny Willett
Willett came into prominence for American golf fans last year at the Match Play, when he finished third, and he's been a steady riser since then. The Englishman won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic by birdieing the final hole. The victory, with Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson in the field and tying for sixth, moved Willett to 13th in the world. He'll be heading to the States shortly for the two WGCs in March. Willett also played the Palmer tournament and Houston Open last year in advance of the Masters.
Byeong Hun An
The 2014-15 European Tour's top rookie tied for fourth at Dubai, giving him three straight top-10s to start 2016, after finishing last year with three top-10s and a T19. An has only one win, but he's now up to No. 24 in the world and the Korean merits consideration in the WGCs and majors.
