When Rickie Fowler laid up on TPC Scottsdale’s par-5 15th in the 2010 Phoenix Open and went on to par the hole but finish second in the standings to Hunter Mahan, withering criticism greeted the then-PGA Tour rookie for wussing out. Facing an almost exact replica of the shot in Thursday’s opening round of this year’s event, Fowler went for it, only to watch his golf ball plunge into the moat that protects the island green.
The 23-year-old fan favorite, who Thursday carded a 2-under 69 to put himself five strokes off the lead before Friday’s round, holed out from the drop area for a birdie. That may give some arm-chair quarterbacks more ammunition to lampoon Fowler for his decision of two years ago -- a move, they would say, that could have cost him the title, and one that the golfer himself hasn’t forgotten.
"I guess that makes up for when I laid up here," a grinning Fowler, who’s still looking for his first tour victory, said to PGATour.com’s Fred Albers after Thursday’s splashdown.
Speaking of quarterbacks (it is Super Bowl Friday, after all), PGA champ and New England native Keegan Bradley was not the only player on the course with Tom Brady and Eli Manning on his mind. Fellow Boston golfer James Driscoll, last year’s Bubble Boy who’s also seeking his inaugural win in the big leagues, had his fingers crossed for himself as well as his hometown team.
"I can’t wait [for Sunday night’s Super Bowl XLVI]" Driscoll told PGATour.com’s Helen Ross after posting a 67 on Thursday. "We’ve been spoiled, us New England fans with all our teams doing great over the last 10 years. I know it would be great to see them win and it would really stink to see them lose to the Giants twice in the Super Bowl. So as much as I want them to win, I really don’t want them to lose....
“If they lose twice to [New York Giants QB] Eli,” Driscoll said, recalling the stunning end to the Patriots’ perfect 2007 season, “that would not sit well with me."
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