Fowler in tears after heartbreaking loss at Phoenix Open

Yahoo Sports

9 February 2016 at 8:02 pm

Rickie Fowler had a lot more riding on the Phoenix Open than anyone knew.

Even before he took questions from the media, it was clear his playoff loss Sunday to Hideki Matsuyama hurt - a lot.

Fowler congratulates Matsuyama. Image: Getty

His voice cracked with each answer as he recalled how he found the water twice on the short par-4 17th - once in regulation and then again on the fourth playoff hole - and how he came so close to winning his fifth title in nine months.

Fowler after one of his balls found water. Image: Getty

But it wasn't club selection or missed putts that caused Fowler to break down in tears. When asked how he was going to get over his second-career playoff loss, Fowler could barely get the answer out.

"The hard part is having, you know, all my friends and family and grandpa and my dad who haven't seen me win," Fowler said. "But I will be able to kinda hang with them tonight. I'll be all right. With how good I'm playing, I know I can win. That's the hard part."

And that's when Fowler had to walk out.