Rickie Fowler, with all eyes on a Chris Como-less Tiger Woods, stole the spotlight from the tournament host by drilling a walk-off ace on the par-3 ninth hole at the Quicken Loans National on Thursday.
Rickie Fowler walks off with an ace, buys media beer at Tiger Woods’ Quicken Loans National
Rob Carr/Getty Images
Choking down on a 7-iron, Fowler told reporters afterward that he “made a great swing” on the 184-yard hole (his last of the day after starting on No. 10) that he and his caddie dialed in at 176 yards.
“Spun to the right. I was trying to cut it. Rolled in with perfect speed,” Fowler said after that eagle-1 gave him a 4-under 67 for the opening round of the tourney that benefits Woods’ foundation.
The rather unlikely bulls-eye to end a round came at an opportune time for the eighth-ranked player in the world, who has two PGA Tour wins so far this year. Following a lengthy rain delay, he carded a three-putt bogey on the par-5 eighth.
No word on how many drinks were on Fowler in the players’ lounge, but he earned high marks from the working press, to whom he delivered a bucket of beer to mark the occasion.
Great move by @RickieFowler. He aced par 3 9th and bought drinks for media members. The writing may be impaired. pic.twitter.com/wIzxGdTGRr
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) July 30, 2015 Fowler will take the field on Friday tied with a slew of players four shots off the pace of 18-hole co-leaders Retief Goosen and Ryo Ishikawa. Ishikawa, for his part, had to settle for a somewhat less dramatic ace of his own, on the 178-yard par-3 fourth hole.
As for Woods, who sparked rumors that he and Como had parted ways by showing up at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., without his swing consultant, the former world No. 1 made the turn with four straight birdies. That, after starting the day with bogeys on three of the first four holes.
Tiger Woods asked post-round if he's still working with instructor Chris Como. "Yeah," he answered with a big smile. "Is there a problem?"
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) July 30, 2015 “I made a lot of key putts today,” Woods said after carding a 68. “I felt like I hit the ball well enough to turn it around. It was nice to actually turn it around.”
The Big Cat, currently ranked 266th, needs a win at his event, in which a relatively weak field boasts just three players in the top 25, to make it into next week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
“Kind of funny, I won there a couple years ago,” Woods said earlier in the week about Firestone, which hosts the Bridgestone contest. “I think I won it eight times, I think. Unfortunately, I can’t get an invite there unless I win. I might as well earn one this week.”
Woods was scheduled to start Friday’s second round on the 10th tee at 8:10 a.m. ET with Nick Watney and Bill Haas.
★★★
SB Nation video archives: Urban golfing with a U.S. Open champ (2012)
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