31st Jan 2012 | Phoenix Open
Phoenix Open Tips: Rickie Fowler
Made only five bogeys at Torrey Pines last week and has finished in the top-15 on his last two visits to Scottsdale.
With all the bombast surrounding the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale it is strange that ‘boring’ golf tends to win the Phoenix Open. The most popular event on the PGA Tour is won by players chugging along making lots of pars.
Last year Mark Wilson and Jason Dufner contested the playoff and got there by playing steady golf. Wilson made four bogeys all week whilst Dufner led the field with only two dropped shots.
Continuing the oxymoronic nature of this tournament, I am backing the flamboyant Rickie Fowler whose golf has been anything but. He finished a commendable T13 at the Farmers Insurance Open last week, with only five dropped shots in his four rounds, a tournament low.
The slow accumulation of birdies has been Rickie Fowler’s strength and that tactic has worked well at Scottsdale. He finished T13 last year and 2nd in 2010, suggesting his game plan is succeeding. A 62 in the second round showed what he is capable of when on song and it was only a quiet final round that dropped him down the field.
In hindsight, I tipped him a tournament too early last week; at almost the same price he can make amends at 25/1 with BetVictor. Back him each way for 1/4 odds for a top five finish.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 17:32 31st Jan, 2012 but subject to change
