Before this week in Japan, Rickie Fowler’s best finish of the 2024 season came three weeks ago at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi, where he tied for 16th.
It has been a struggle for Fowler, who won for the first time in four years at last year’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. But he has been trending in the right direction during the FedEx Cup Fall in October. After his strong finish in Jackson—his first start since a solo 71st at The Open in July—Fowler tied for 23rd at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Then, he flew across the Pacific Ocean to Japan for this week’s ZOZO Championship; luckily, his form traveled with him. Fowler posted a solo fourth-place finish in Japan this week, his best finish of the season. In doing so, he keeps a 16-year streak alive. Fowler has posted at least one top 10 on tour every year dating back to 2009.
His final round 64, in which he had six birdies and no bogies, soared him up the leaderboard.
“It was a good, solid day. I was obviously trying to get more. We had some dinner with our friends in Narita last night, and we set the goal at [9-under], so I fell a little bit short,” Fowler said.
“Still a good solid day. Yeah, excited about the way I’ve been able to play the few events that I’ve played this fall. Not necessarily having my best, but being a lot of positives. It’s nice to have a good finish, especially here in Japan, in front of some fun fans.”
Fowler credited his strong final round to improved iron play, which has been a sore spot for him this season. He ranks 129th on tour in strokes gained approach, although nothing has gone his way overall. Fowler is 147th in total strokes gained and 164th in scoring average, proof that 2024 has not been his year.
Yet he will leave the Far East on Monday morning with plenty of confidence as he vaulted up to 92nd in the FedEx Cup Fall rankings. He still has a long way to go to crack the top 60 and qualify for next year’s Signature Events, but Fowler finally had something go his way this week. That alone is cause for a minor celebration.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.