Updated: 9:25 p.m. ET
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Rickie Fowler teed off more than an hour before the leaders on Sunday at The Players, but everyone at TPC Sawgrass heard his finish.
Fowler, who started the day three strokes out of the lead, played his last six holes in 6 under par, including an eagle at the 16th hole, to grab the clubhouse lead at 12 under par.
He eventually entered a three-man, three-hole aggregate playoff with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner. After Garcia failed to advance to sudden death, Fowler birdied the par-3 17th - for the third time on Sunday - to win on Tour for the second time (first since 2012).
It was particularly good timing for Fowler, who was recently voted the most overrated player, along with Ian Poulter, in golf. Fowler dismissed the player poll, which ran on Golf.com, but his performance on Sunday sparked plenty of player feedback on social media - from both men and women:
Wow. What an incredible finish! Clutch playing by all 3. @RickieFowlerPGA 8 under on the last 10 played!! Congrats buddy
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) May 10, 2015
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS @RickieFowlerPGA pic.twitter.com/NMM7Ix8eqU
— Michelle Wie (@MichelleWieWest) May 10, 2015
Sad for Sergio but soooo happy for @RickieFowlerPGA!!! Way to go 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 amazing stuff!!!👊👊👊 so nice to see such a good guy win!
— Azahara Munoz (@AzaharaGOLF) May 10, 2015
Congrats to therealrickiefowler on the stellar play at the Players Championship!! Well deserved win,… https://t.co/Fal4XrL2xo
— Lexi Thompson (@Lexi) May 11, 2015
Oh My! Congrats @RickieFowlerPGA !! Enjoy with family!! Best way to do it!
— Belén Mozo (@BelenMozo) May 11, 2015
Some playing kid! Clutch clutch win, congrats @RickieFowlerPGA
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) May 11, 2015
@RickieFowlerPGA well played lad. Well played. 👍
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) May 11, 2015
The sport of golf is in gr8 hands with @JordanSpieth @McIlroyRory @RickieFowlerPGA + a cast of many others gr8 ones. https://t.co/TN2SfY2Z0v
— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) May 11, 2015
Congrats to @RickieFowlerPGA!!
— Hunter Mahan (@HunterMahan) May 11, 2015
WHAT. A. WIN.
— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) May 11, 2015
He's a star for a reason. The kids got it.
Huge huge congrats to my friend @RickieFowlerPGA. You deserve it all buddy.
Awesome job @RickieFowlerPGA on your win!!!! #prettysurethatwasnotoverrated
— Paula Creamer (@ThePCreamer) May 11, 2015
Big congrats to @RickieFowlerPGA !! You were always underrated in my book!! Knew it was coming!! #2015PlayersChamp
— Brandt Snedeker (@BrandtSnedeker) May 11, 2015
