Rickie Fowler optimistic after another close call

Golf pros say winning a tournament on the PGA Tour is one of the hardest things to do. Winning a green jacket at the Masters is even harder.

Rickie Fowler again came up just short after shooting a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday, which put him in a tie for ninth and 10-under for the tournament, three shots behind winner Tiger Woods.

“I love this place,” Fowler said. “I've got a jacket coming soon, just not this year. I love being here. I feel like I've gotten to know this place really well and gave myself a good chance multiple times here and it’s just a matter of time. I know I can get it done here.”

Fowler now has three top 10s at the Masters that include 2014, (tied for fifth) 2018 (tied for second) and the tie for ninth in this year’s edition.

“It was fun,” Fowler said. “Obviously came up a little short. But it wasn't easy out there today with the storms coming in soon, the wind kind of kept picking up as the day went on. And this place is hard without wind, just trying to hit your spots and control the golf ball.”

After making an impressive run birdieing holes 13-15, Fowler needed to birdie the 16th to have a realistic chance at winning. Instead, his birdie putt lipped out to keep him two off the lead.

“Yeah I did,” Fowler said about needing to birdie No. 16. “I needed it to get to at least 13. I wasn't even paying attention to where I was at, I was just trying to birdie every hole coming in.”

He made a birdie at No. 17 and just missed a final one at 18 before missing his comeback putt for a bogey. 

Fowler greeted Woods after the 2019 champion headed to the clubhouse. Fowler said he knew Woods still had the talent to win another major.

“I saw kind of a light at the end of the tunnel when I spent some time with him a couple of falls ago, seeing him back healthy and able to play,” Fowler said. “Obviously a lot easier said than done. You have to go out there and actually do it. But I saw the possibility there with what he was doing at home, how he was feeling, how he was swinging. It's pretty cool.”