With much of the focus on top-ranked Jordan Spieth and No. 3 Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler was almost able to fly under the radar for much of the week.
But at the end, there he was on the top of the heap.
Fowler chipped in for a birdie on the 17th hole and closed with a 3-under-par 69 to claim a one-stroke victory over Thomas Pieters of Belgium in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.
“This was a big one,” said Fowler, who this week will climb to No. 4 in the World Golf Rankings behind Spieth, No. 2 Jason Day of Australia and McIlroy. “Last year having a multiple-win season, to come back and work on getting back in the winner’s circle after a successful season and keep moving forward. This is a great start. It’s great field that HSBC has put together here.
“I’d like to jump in and be a part of that crew (the top three) and see if we can continue, to win some majors if I can jump in there. The goal right now with where my game’s at, the best it’s been this early in the season in my career, I’m working on getting ready for Augusta. And I’d like to have my shot at getting the Green Jacket there. The ultimate goal this year is to go win a major and this is a step in the right direction for sure.”
Fowler, who claimed three of his five professional victories last year, became the first American to win in Abu Dhabi since Chris DiMarco claimed the inaugural event in 2006.
Pieters birdied the last hole to fall one stroke short with a 67, while McIlroy finished with an eagle to shoot 68 and was two shots back in a tie for third with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who birdied the last two holes for a 67.
Spieth birdied four of the last seven holes for a third 68, to wind up five strokes back in a tie for fifth, but was done in by a 73 in the second round.
Marcel Siem of Germany posted a 67 and also tied for fifth with Alejandro Canizares of Spain, who totaled 69, Branden Grace of South Africa and Byeong An of South Korea, who both wound up at 71, and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, who came in at 72.
