Rickie Fowler: Takes Abu Dhabi Championship

Howell, whose hopes of winning the €400,000 first prize nose-dived yesterday as he dropped three shots in the front nine of his third round, carded a pair of 73s in his final two rounds to finish tied 35th in the Middle East.

Fowler then went on to have a mixed round with two successive birdies in his opening holes followed by a double bogey on the seventh and an eagle at the eighth.

A run of eight straight pars allowed the chasing pack – led initially by playing partner Pieters – to get within a shot again.

However, Fowler responded by chipping in for a birdie on the 17th to take a two-shot lead up the 18th, where Pieters agonisingly missed his eagle attempt to potentially force a play-off.

The omens are good for the crowd pleasing Fowler after keeping his nerve on the final day for his second European Tour win after claiming the Scottish Open a year ago. Like I said, the goal right now with where my game’s at, the best it’s been this early in the season in my career, I’m working on getting ready for [the US Masters] at Augusta. “It’s nice to have that added confidence now, really having the belief and knowing that come Sunday when I’m in the mix, I know I can go get it done”, Fowler told reporters. “It’s a good time in the schedule, with strength of field that’s not matched this time of year anywhere else”, he said.

Fowler will now be fourth behind world champions Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and McIlroy, and he is pleased to make it there.

After the Valspar, which Spieth won previous year, there are three weekends that include the Arnold Palmer Invitational, World Golf Championships-Dell Match Play, and Puerto Rico Open before the Shell Houston Open and then the Masters. I mean, I want to be playing against the best players in the world and beating the best players in the world.

“I’ve got my eye on No1, that would be the ultimate goal, but I’m up against some pretty tough competition”.

“But to win with them in the field, it’s awesome. I’ve played a lot of good golf here at this golf course in Abu Dhabi”. “I’m looking forward to going to battle with those guys all year long and for the rest of our careers”. This is a great start. It was a lot of fun today. “I think I mentioned through the summer at some point …”

The American was particularly pleased that he had clinched his second European Tour title competing against the world number one Jordan Spieth, who finished tied for fifth and the four-time major victor Rory McIlroy, who came joint third.

Since the Presidents Cup in South Korea in October, he’s competed in Shanghai, Australia, the Bahamas and Abu Dhabi. Rust will surely be a factor early in the season for the talented Australian, but we’ve seen what he can do when in form. I’m very exhausted right now.