Golf: Fowler bests McIlroy in PGA playoff

Rickie Fowler of the US pumps his fist after winning the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte,...
Rickie Fowler of the US pumps his fist after winning the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. REUTERS/Chris Keane
Rickie Fowler has claimed his first PGA Tour victory by winning the Wells Fargo championship with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff against Briton Rory McIlroy and fellow American D.A. Points at Quail Hollow.

The 23-year-old Fowler finally justified his billing as one of the game's top young players when he sank a four-footer for birdie at the 18th hole to claim victory at the Charlotte, North Carolina course.

Fowler fired a three-under-par 69 to join US Open champion McIlroy (70) and Points (71) in the sudden-death playoff after tying at 14-under-par 274 after the regulation 72 holes.

Fowler, who had made the last US Ryder Cup team despite lacking a tour victory, saw the pressure lift off his shoulders when both Points and McIlroy missed their par putts.

McIlroy had left himself 34 feet from the cup after his approach, and Points was 41 feet away.

Despite losing out in the playoff, the finish ensured 23-year-old McIlroy would reclaim the number one world ranking.

Home-town favourite Webb Simpson, the third-round leader, finished one stroke out of the playoff at 275 after posting a 73 for fourth place, two shots better than Briton Lee Westwood (66) and Americans Ben Curtis (67) and Ryan Moore (74).

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