Rickie Fowler was questioned on social media after conceding a putt to Tommy Fleetwood to secure the much-needed half point and win the Ryder Cup for Europe.
Fleetwood had a birdie putt of 3ft on the 16th green, with Fowler still yet to hole out for par, although the American told the Englishman to pick it up.
It sent fans wild and secured yet another home soil victory for Team Europe, but some fans were left scratching their heads. The probability of Fleetwood holing the putt was very high, but tensions were obviously very high at this point in the day with the US charging and only five points up for grabs in the matches left.
It also denied Fleetwood the opportunity to hole a putt to win back the trophy.
An unlikely miss from Fleetwood would have pegged him back to 1up with two holes to play, assuming Fowler made his par putt.
Fowler, regarded as one of the nicest men in golf, showed his class with the friendly gimme – and it also led to fans joking that he was making a play for the Nicklaus and Jacklin award for sportsmanship, based on the 1969 ‘Concession’ Ryder Cup. Justin Rose went on to win that award, with the Englishman putting in a superb Ryder Cup performance.
Paul Azinger also questioned on air whether the American should have let Fleetwood pick it up.
Watch the moment Tommy Fleetwood secured the Ryder Cup for Europe:
Europe set to win Ryder Cup as Tommy Fleetwood goes 2up with two play against Fowler! 🏆🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/mB70Be3z3AOctober 1, 2023
Here’s how social media reacted to Rickie Fowler’s ‘generous’ gimme…
Rickie making one final play for the Nicklaus/Jacklin. (I can’t be first on that)October 1, 2023
“Is that putt good?”Rickie- pic.twitter.com/qGA9YzX9WEOctober 1, 2023
Rickie Fowler conceding the putt to win the Ryder Cup is the most Rickie Fowler thing everOctober 1, 2023
Interesting moment, for sure. If Tommy misses and Rickie makes they halve the hole and Fowler is 1-down with 2 to play and still alive. Fowler treasure his reputation as a good sport but maybe he overdid it? He also denied Fleetwood the joy of gutting a putt to clinch the Cup! https://t.co/KuXlnLSGTAOctober 1, 2023
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