Honda Classic R4: Fowler converts big lead in Florida

Final leaderboard

-12 Rickie Fowler
-8 Morgan Hoffmann, Gary Woodland
-7 Martin Kaymer, Billy Horschel, Jhonattan Vegas, Chad Collins, Wesley Bryan, Tyrrell Hatton

Day four report

Rickie Fowler converted his four-shot lead into a four-shot victory on a difficult closing day in the Honda Classic.

Starting round four on 13-under, Fowler was able to maintain his advantage despite shooting a one-over 71 at PGA National.

A bogey at the fourth hole cancelled out his birdie at the third, and when Fowler doubled the sixth and dropped a further shot at the ninth, his lead was briefly down to one.

Gary Woodland had emerged as the main challenger with four birdies in his opening 13 holes, but a bogey at the 17th hole followed by another mistake at the last enabled Fowler to enjoy some breathing space coming home.

A long-range birdie putt from Fowler at the 12th hole followed by another at the 13th saw him restore a comfortable lead and meant that his own late mistakes made no difference to the outcome.

Fowler found water at the 17th and did well to make bogey at the exposed par-three, before again dropping a shot on the par-five 18th after his approach found sand.

Still, his Saturday 65 followed by some important putts midway through the final round had established a big lead and Fowler was ultimately a convincing winner.

Fowler, who moves up to ninth in the world rankings, told pgatour.com: "My putter saved me, I made some good putts. 

"It was tough out there, I fought as hard as I could. A few of those putts that I made, if I don't make them I've got a pretty tight race.

"Moving forward, this is something I needed going into Augusta and I like where I'm at at the moment."

Morgan Hoffmann's closing 68 was enough to secure a share of second alongside Woodland and full playing rights having lost them in 2016, while the latter's poor finish shouldn't undermine another excellent week for the big-hitter.

A hole-in-one at the difficult 15th helped Jhonattan Vegas complete his 46-place climb up the leaderboard into fourth while Billy Horschel's 68 was another standout score on a difficult day.

England's Tyrrell Hatton struggled alongside Fowler in the final group, dropping three shots in the opening seven holes, but to his credit came home in 34 to sit in that big share of fourth which also included Martin Kaymer of Germany.

Day three report

Tyrrell Hatton continued to enhance his burgeoning reputation by throwing himself into contention of the Honda Classic going into Sunday's final round.

The 25-year-old, from Buckinghamshire, won his first European Tour title in October and now he could win a first on the other side of the Atlantic, but will have to overcome a four-shot deficit to leader Rickie Fowler at Palm Beach.

Hatton carded a four-under-par 66 to climb the leaderboard on nine under, firing six birdies and he could have been in an even better position had he not bogeyed the par-three 17th.

He will tee off last with Ryder Cup star Fowler on Sunday after the American made his move with a blemish-free 65, which saw five birdies.

Five men, including two-time major champion Martin Kaymer are two shots behind Hatton on seven under, with Emiliano Grillo and Sean O'Hair big movers up the leaderboard.

Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia are all on five under and probably too far back to make a challenge on Sunday.

Day two report

Ryan Palmer and Wesley Bryan are the joint leaders at the halfway stage of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach.

Palmer, chasing a fourth PGA Tour title, shot a five-under-par 65, with Bryan going round in two more, as both sit on nine under after the opening two rounds.

Palmer struck seven birdies and would have been out in the lead on his own but for a bogey on the 17th while Bryan, who was a joint overnight leader, carded five birdies and two bogeys.

Palmer has only recently returned to the tour after his wife's battle with breast cancer, which has helped him put some perspective into his game.

"When you get inside the ropes, everything kind of goes away. You enjoy those four or five hours," he told pgatour.com. "It helps make golf less aggravating at times. You realise it's just a game we're playing.

"Things are clear and she's doing awesome."

Rickie Fowler is a shot further back on eight under after a second successive 66 while Indian Anirban Lahiri is on seven under.

England's Tyrrel Hatton is on five under, one shot ahead of compatriot Luke Donald.

Day one report

American duo Cody Gribble and Wesley Bryan are the first-round leaders of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach.

Both men shot six-under-par 64 to take their place at the summit of the leaderboard, a shot clear of Martin Kaymer and Anirban Lahiri.

Gribble earned his place there after finishing with a back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18, bouncing back from his solitary bogey at 16, while Bryan fired seven birdies, including five on the front nine.

Bryan, who earned a career-best tied-fourth finish at the Genesis Open last week, said on pgatour.com: "(I'm) just kind of picking up where I left off.

"I was able to get the ball in the fairway with some of the tougher driving holes out there, and set up a couple good birdie opportunities."

Two-time major winner Kaymer also ended with birdies in the final two holes while Indian Lahiri eagled the 18th to climb the leaderboard.

England's Ian Poulter is back on four-under, along with Rickie Fowler and five other men.